How did The COVID-19 Pandemic Affect Urology Outpatient Clinic Applications?

Objective: The Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) is particularly more common and deadly among older men who also constitute a significant portion

of urology patients. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the change in the diagnostic spectrum in urology outpatient applications after the declaration of

pandemic compared to the pre- pandemic period.

Materials and Methods: All patients were enrolled between February 12 and May 6, 2020. Demographic, and clinical data of the patients were analyzed

pertaining to the period of 4 weeks before, and the first, and second 4 weeks after declaration of the pandemic. Data obtained from the database such as

age, gender, diagnoses were anonymized. Recurrent applications with the same diagnosis within ten days after the first presentation were excluded from the

analysis.

Results: Compared to the pre-pandemic period a significant decrease in the number of patients applied to the urology outpatient clinics after declaration of

the pandemic, and in the frequency of diagnoses of prostate diseases, and urine transport, storage and emptying disorders and a significant increase in the

frequency of diagnoses of urinary system stone disease, benign or malignant bladder diseases, upper urinary system tumors, and sexual dysfunction were

observed after declaration of the pandemic.

Conclusion: The risk perception of COVID-19 disease may cause changes in the diagnostic distribution of patients applied to the urology outpatient clinics.

During periods of outbreak, the health system must be redesigned by focusing on outpatients.