COVID-19 Tied to Higher Risk for New, Worsening Bladder Symptoms

MONDAY, Nov. 7, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- COVID-19 infection is associated with an increased risk for developing new or worsening overactive bladder symptoms, according to a study published in the December issue of European Urology Open Science.

Ly Hoang Roberts, from the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine in Royal Oak, Michigan, and colleagues assessed the incidence of COVID-19-associated cystitis (CAC) and its association with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 antibody levels. The analysis included 1,895 health care employees participating in the BLAST COVID study group.

The researchers found that 27.4 percent of those with positive serology only (asymptomatic COVID-19) and 37.8 percent of those with polymerase chain reaction positivity (symptomatic COVID-19) had an increase of 1 or more point on the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-overactive bladder since baseline, versus 15.8 percent of uninfected patients (odds ratios, 2.0 and 3.2, respectively).

"The exact pathophysiology of CAC is yet to be discovered, although others have hypothesized that the increase in systemic inflammation on COVID-19 infection can lead to bladder inflammation and thus bothersome urinary symptoms," the authors write.

One author disclosed financial ties to the biopharmaceutical industry.

Abstract/Full Text