The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has put a substantial burden on the Italian healthcare system, resulting in the restructuring of hospitals to care for COVID-19 patients. However, this has likely impacted access to care for patients experiencing other conditions. We aimed to quantify the impact of COVID-19 on access to care for patients with urgent/emergent urological conditions throughout Italy. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire was sent to 33 urological units in the AGILE consortium, asking clinicians to report on the number of urgent/emergent urological patients seen and/or undergoing surgery over a 3-week period during the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak and a reference week prior to the outbreak. ANOVA and linear regression models were used to quantify these changes. Results: Data from 27 urological centres in Italy showed a decrease from 956 patients/week seen just prior to the outbreak to 291 patients/week seen by the end of the study period. There was a difference in the number of patients with urgent/emergent urological disease seen within/during the different weeks (all p values < 0.05). A significant decrease in the number of patients presenting with haematuria, urinary retention, urinary tract infection, scrotal pain, renal colic, or trauma and urgent/emergent cases that required surgery was reported (all p values < 0.05). Conclusion: In Italy, during the COVID-19 outbreak there has been a decrease in patients seeking help for urgent/emergent urological conditions. Restructuring of hospitals and clinics is mandatory to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic; however, the healthcare system should continue to provide adequate levels of care also to patients with other conditions.

Urology in the Time of Coronavirus: Reduced Access to Urgent and Emergent Urological Care during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Outbreak in Italy / Porreca, A.; Colicchia, M.; D'Agostino, D.; Amenta, M.; Corsaro, A.; Zaramella, S.; Zegna, L.; Gallo, F.; Schenone, M.; Bozzini, G.; Calori, A.; Pastore, A. L.; Al Salhi, Y.; Sciorio, C.; Spirito, L.; Varca, V.; Marenghi, C.; Greco, F.; Altieri, V. M.; Verze, P.; Barba, C.; Antonelli, A.; Cerruto, M. A.; Falabella, R.; Di Bello, S.; Leonardo, C.; Tufano, A.; Volpe, A.; Umari, P.; Parma, P.; Nidini, M.; Pini, G.; Borghesi, M.; Terrone, C.; Cacciamani, G. E.; Sighinolfi, M. C.; Busetto, G. M.; Wennberg, A. M.; Finocchiaro, M.; Falsaperla, M.; Oderda, M.; Ceruti, C.; Rocco, B.; Schiavina, R.; Bianchi, L.; Mari, A.; Di Maida, F.; Dalpiaz, O.; Celia, A.; Pirozzi, M.; Bove, P.; Iacovelli, V.; Cafarelli, A.; Cindolo, L.; Ferrari, G.; Gatti, L.; Pirola, G.; Annino, F.; Pucci, L.; Romagnoli, D.; Artibani, W.; Minervini, A.. - In: UROLOGIA INTERNATIONALIS. - ISSN 0042-1138. - 104:7-8(2020), pp. 631-636. [10.1159/000508512]

Urology in the Time of Coronavirus: Reduced Access to Urgent and Emergent Urological Care during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Outbreak in Italy

Gallo F.;Bozzini G.;Volpe A.;Sighinolfi M. C.;Rocco B.;Cafarelli A.;Pirola G.;Annino F.;Romagnoli D.;Artibani W.;
2020

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has put a substantial burden on the Italian healthcare system, resulting in the restructuring of hospitals to care for COVID-19 patients. However, this has likely impacted access to care for patients experiencing other conditions. We aimed to quantify the impact of COVID-19 on access to care for patients with urgent/emergent urological conditions throughout Italy. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire was sent to 33 urological units in the AGILE consortium, asking clinicians to report on the number of urgent/emergent urological patients seen and/or undergoing surgery over a 3-week period during the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak and a reference week prior to the outbreak. ANOVA and linear regression models were used to quantify these changes. Results: Data from 27 urological centres in Italy showed a decrease from 956 patients/week seen just prior to the outbreak to 291 patients/week seen by the end of the study period. There was a difference in the number of patients with urgent/emergent urological disease seen within/during the different weeks (all p values < 0.05). A significant decrease in the number of patients presenting with haematuria, urinary retention, urinary tract infection, scrotal pain, renal colic, or trauma and urgent/emergent cases that required surgery was reported (all p values < 0.05). Conclusion: In Italy, during the COVID-19 outbreak there has been a decrease in patients seeking help for urgent/emergent urological conditions. Restructuring of hospitals and clinics is mandatory to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic; however, the healthcare system should continue to provide adequate levels of care also to patients with other conditions.
2020
104
7-8
631
636
Urology in the Time of Coronavirus: Reduced Access to Urgent and Emergent Urological Care during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Outbreak in Italy / Porreca, A.; Colicchia, M.; D'Agostino, D.; Amenta, M.; Corsaro, A.; Zaramella, S.; Zegna, L.; Gallo, F.; Schenone, M.; Bozzini, G.; Calori, A.; Pastore, A. L.; Al Salhi, Y.; Sciorio, C.; Spirito, L.; Varca, V.; Marenghi, C.; Greco, F.; Altieri, V. M.; Verze, P.; Barba, C.; Antonelli, A.; Cerruto, M. A.; Falabella, R.; Di Bello, S.; Leonardo, C.; Tufano, A.; Volpe, A.; Umari, P.; Parma, P.; Nidini, M.; Pini, G.; Borghesi, M.; Terrone, C.; Cacciamani, G. E.; Sighinolfi, M. C.; Busetto, G. M.; Wennberg, A. M.; Finocchiaro, M.; Falsaperla, M.; Oderda, M.; Ceruti, C.; Rocco, B.; Schiavina, R.; Bianchi, L.; Mari, A.; Di Maida, F.; Dalpiaz, O.; Celia, A.; Pirozzi, M.; Bove, P.; Iacovelli, V.; Cafarelli, A.; Cindolo, L.; Ferrari, G.; Gatti, L.; Pirola, G.; Annino, F.; Pucci, L.; Romagnoli, D.; Artibani, W.; Minervini, A.. - In: UROLOGIA INTERNATIONALIS. - ISSN 0042-1138. - 104:7-8(2020), pp. 631-636. [10.1159/000508512]
Porreca, A.; Colicchia, M.; D'Agostino, D.; Amenta, M.; Corsaro, A.; Zaramella, S.; Zegna, L.; Gallo, F.; Schenone, M.; Bozzini, G.; Calori, A.; Pastore, A. L.; Al Salhi, Y.; Sciorio, C.; Spirito, L.; Varca, V.; Marenghi, C.; Greco, F.; Altieri, V. M.; Verze, P.; Barba, C.; Antonelli, A.; Cerruto, M. A.; Falabella, R.; Di Bello, S.; Leonardo, C.; Tufano, A.; Volpe, A.; Umari, P.; Parma, P.; Nidini, M.; Pini, G.; Borghesi, M.; Terrone, C.; Cacciamani, G. E.; Sighinolfi, M. C.; Busetto, G. M.; Wennberg, A. M.; Finocchiaro, M.; Falsaperla, M.; Oderda, M.; Ceruti, C.; Rocco, B.; Schiavina, R.; Bianchi, L.; Mari, A.; Di Maida, F.; Dalpiaz, O.; Celia, A.; Pirozzi, M.; Bove, P.; Iacovelli, V.; Cafarelli, A.; Cindolo, L.; Ferrari, G.; Gatti, L.; Pirola, G.; Annino, F.; Pucci, L.; Romagnoli, D.; Artibani, W.; Minervini, A.
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