Urinary incontinence in women after Covid-19 infection

an observational study

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: to estimate the frequency of UI in women who were diagnosed with COVID-19 and to identify the characteristics of UI in these women. METHOD: women between 18 and 45 years old who were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection were included. Pregnant women were excluded; who before infection had symptoms such as urinary, intestinal, menstrual and sexual complaints. The online questionnaire consisted of questions about identification, sociodemographic aspects, questions about COVID-19 and urinary symptoms, the frequency of UI was investigated using the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire - Short Form (ICIQ-SF). Data were stored and analyzed using the Software Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 20.0 for Windows and to assess the association between variables, the chi-square test was used with a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: among the 133 women who participated, 36.2% had UI, with SUI being present in 18.1% of cases, followed by UUI with a frequency of 15.8%. Regarding the impact of UI this group, the data demonstrate significant impairment (p < 0.0001) in their daily lives. CONCLUSION: It was observed that among women who had COVID-19, 36.2% reported some loss of urine, with a higher frequency of SUI characteristics, followed by UUI.