COVID-19 pandemic impact on clinical outcomes of patients with obstructive pyelonephritis

PURPOSE: Obstructive pyelonephritis is a common urologic emergency that requires prompt decompression of the collecting system. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed patient flow and healthcare strategies at numerous emergency departments across Brazil with still unknown consequences for the population. This study sought to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on clinical outcomes in patients with acute obstructive pyelonephritis at a tertiary academic center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After Institutional Review Board approval, a retrospective chart review of patients who required decompression of the collecting system due to acute obstructive pyelonephritis from June 2019 to July 2020 was conducted. Basic demographic information, pre-operative, and peri-operative data were recorded. Patients were assigned in “Pre-Covid” and “Post-Covid” groups based on the admission dates. RESULTS: A total of 63 patients were included, with 40 patients in the Pre-Covid group and 23 in the Post-Covid group. Patients from the Post-Covid group presented at the ER later after symptoms onset (7.8 vs. 4.3 days; p = 0.012), had higher rates of SIRS (57% vs. 25%; p = 0.012), perirenal abscesses (13% vs. 0%; p = 0.019), overall complications (p = 0.047) and presented longer hospital length of stay (7.6 vs. 3.8; p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: During the COVID-19 pandemic, patients with acute obstructive pyelonephritis presented later for evaluation at the ER, had higher disease severity and longer hospital length of stay when compared to the pre-COVID group of patients with the same pathology.