Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on patients with obstructing urinary stones complicated by infection

Objective: To assess the influence of COVID-19-imposed life changes on presentation and outcomes of patients with obstructing urinary stones complicated by infection. Patients and methods: All patients presenting with obstructing urinary stones and infection 1 year before the pandemic (March 2019 to February 2020; n = 66) and 1 year since its onset (March 2020 to February 2021; n = 45) were enrolled. Demographics, clinical presentation, laboratory panel, stone characteristics and outcomes were compared between groups. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were performed for analysis. Results: The COVID-19 period was characterised by younger patients, female predominance, higher temperature at presentation and more bilateral obstructing stones (p < 0.05). The admission rate to intensive care units was double that of the pre-pandemic period, whereas time between diagnosis and treatment was similar. The univariate analysis revealed higher rates of severe sepsis (odds ratio [OR] = 3, p = 0.01), systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) ≥ 2 (OR = 2.9, p = 0.01) and risk, injury, failure, loss of kidney function and end-stage kidney (RIFLE) criteria ≥ 1 (OR = 2.2, p = 0.04) in the pandemic period group. The multivariate analyses revealed the COVID-19 period as being the sole variable associated with severe sepsis (OR = 3.1, p = 0.02), SIRS ≥ 2 (OR = 3.8, p = 0.005) and RIFLE ≥ 1 (OR = 2.6, p = 0.05). Conclusions: The pandemic period was characterised by a worse clinical state at presentation of patients with obstructing urinary stones complicated by infection, probably reflecting delay in arrival to emergency services.