SARS-CoV-2 infection may worsen lower urinary tract symptoms in men

Reviewed by Lily Ramsey, LLMOct 18 2023

Research published in the Journal of Internal Medicine indicates that SARS-CoV-2 infection may worsen lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men.

The study included 17,986 men receiving medication for LUTS within the public healthcare system of Hong Kong in 2021–2022, half of whom had SARS-CoV-2 infection. The group with SARS-CoV-2 had significantly higher rates of retention of urine (4.55% versus 0.86%); blood in the urine (1.36% versus 0.41%); clinical urinary tract infection (4.31% versus 1.49%); bacteria in the urine (9.02% versus 1.97%); and addition of 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, which are drugs prescribed for enlarged prostate. (0.50% versus 0.02%). These urological manifestations occurred regardless of COVID-19 severity.

The findings might relate to the presence of certain proteins targeted by SARS-CoV-2 that are known to be expressed in the prostate.

We are excited to be the first to report the effects of COVID-19 on complications of benign prostatic hyperplasia-;or enlarged prostate-;and also demonstrate the alarming extent of its urological effects." 

Alex Qinyang Liu, MD, corresponding author, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong