Connection between Overactive Bladder and COVID-19: Implications and Management Strategies
People with COVID-19 may experience urinary symptoms, although there are no specific treatments designed for this condition. Doctors often try to address potential underlying causes with existing treatments such as medications, lifestyle changes, exercises, procedures, and vaccination.
Research into the relationship between COVID-19 and urinary symptoms is ongoing, but a 2022 study found that individuals with COVID-19 had a threefold increased risk of developing urinary symptoms compared to those without the virus.
COVID-19-related urinary symptoms, often referred to as COVID-19-associated cystitis (CAC) or COVID-19-related lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), are more common in males, older adults, and those with severe COVID-19. Interestingly, the risk of new urinary symptoms was also high in people who had COVID-19 with no symptoms.
The condition may appear during or after the COVID-19 infection and may be part of long COVID. Inflammation of the bladder can lead to cystitis, causing more urgent and frequent urination. Secondary bacterial infections can occur after a viral infection like COVID-19, although they are not very common in people with COVID-19. UTIs are one of the most common infection types when they do happen.
Some people with COVID-19 may pass blood or pus in their urine. The link between COVID-19 and overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms is not fully understood, but scientists have found viral RNA in the urine of people with COVID-19. However, the correlation with symptoms is not always clear.
Chronic systemic inflammation, which may be exacerbated by factors like stress during a pandemic, can undermine the bladder epithelium integrity and promote detrusor muscle overactivity, further contributing to OAB symptoms. This suggests that both direct kidney injury caused by COVID-19 and secondary systemic inflammation can affect bladder function, leading to overactive bladder symptoms.
To diagnose OAB or CAC, a doctor may ask questions about symptoms and medical history, perform a physical examination, recommend tests that look for an underlying cause, and ask a person to keep a bladder diary for a few weeks. A study in Italy found that women with OAB had significantly worse symptoms four weeks after the introduction of social distancing, suggesting that stress affects the severity.
A 2021 study suggested that COVID-19 vaccination led to improvements in long COVID symptoms after 120 days, but no research has yet been conducted on whether these treatments specifically help people with COVID-19-related symptoms.
In conclusion, COVID-19 can affect the urinary system primarily by causing acute kidney injury and inflammation, which may contribute to symptoms of overactive bladder. Both direct kidney injury caused by COVID-19 and secondary systemic inflammation can affect bladder function, leading to overactive bladder symptoms. It is essential to continue researching this area to better understand the relationship between COVID-19 and urinary symptoms and to develop targeted treatments.
- In addition to affecting overall health, COVID-19 may induce urinary symptoms, such as overactive bladder (OAB), due to inflammation and potential direct kidney injury.
- The interplay between COVID-19 and urinary health is an ongoing area of scientific study, with research showing individuals with COVID-19 could have a threefold increase in developing urinary symptoms compared to those who don't have the virus.
- Stress during a pandemic may exacerbate chronic systemic inflammation, compromising bladder epithelium integrity and leading to detrusor muscle overactivity, which can contribute to OAB symptoms and other COVID-19-related urinary symptoms.
