Abstract

Background: Aortic Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) refer to a range of urinary symptoms affecting both men and women. These symptoms include increased frequency of urination, urgency, weak urine flow, incomplete emptying of the bladder, and nocturia. Objective: LUTS encompass various urinary issues, with emerging evidence suggesting a potential connection to COVID-19. This study aimed to evaluate the occurrence and long-term effects of COVID-19 on LUTS and IPSS across different infection severities. Methods: The prospective observational study enrolled 85 COVID-19 patients. IPSS was used to assess LUTS before, during, and 3 and 6 months after infection. Data collection included demographics and clinical characteristics, with follow-up assessments of all participants, highlighting significant differences between severity groups through statistical analysis. Results: The highest IPSS values occurred during the acute phase of infection in all groups. Patients with severe or critical COVID-19 exhibited the highest IPSS, while asymptomatic or mild cases had the lowest scores. IPSS scores showed a significant association across all phases in patients with a history of urological disorders compared to those without. Age was positively correlated with IPSS before and during infection. Long-term bladder dysfunction associated with COVID-19 may cause persistent LUTS in patients with mild cases. Conclusion: A significant association exists between COVID-19 and LUTS, indicating that LUTS should be considered in COVID-19 cases. Monitoring LUTS is recommended throughout COVID-19 and during recovery. However, pre-infection LUTS were assessed retrospectively through recall of IPSS scores, which may be subject to recall bias and could affect the accuracy of pre- and post-infection comparisons. This study is among the first to provide a 6-month longitudinal follow-up with predictors such as age and urological history. Limitations include the lack of control for confounding factors and potential recall bias, though the within-subject repeated design enhances the strength of the results.

Key words: IPSS (International Prostate Scoring System), Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms, COVID-19, Benign Prostate Hyperplasia. Symptoms Severity