Recommendations for the Management of Patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective Study of 314 Cases

AIM: Through investigation and analysis of the course management of 314 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) during the COVID-19 pandemic, we expected to offer effective recommendations for the management of patients with BPH against the background of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: We implemented telephone follow-ups of 314 patients with BPH who were diagnosed at the Urology Clinic of Xiangya Hospital of Central South University before January 24, 2020, and who were admitted to the hospital for reexamination after the epidemic was controlled in China, and we conducted research and analysis of their disease management during the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: In the follow-up, we found 245 patients (79.3%) over 60 years of age and 187 patients (60.5%) with underlying disease. There were 47 patients (15.2%) who returned for consultation during the COVID-19 pandemic, and of these, 18 were admitted to the hospital for follow-up consultation, and 29 patients underwent consultation via the internet or telephone. Eleven patients underwent surgery during the pandemic, and of these, three experienced emergency surgery. We encountered 65 patients (24.4%) who self-administered medications irregularly and 54 patients (20.3%) who self-medicated and adjusted the dosage and drug types themselves. There were 302 patients (97.7%) who wished to be reexamined during the COVID-19 pandemic. In terms of treatment, the proportion of patients “awaiting observation” declined from 13.9% to 4.4%, and the proportion of patients “awaiting surgery” increased from 4.9% to 16.4%. Using the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) scale, the percentage of patients with moderate-to-severe symptoms increased from 79.9% to 90.1%, and the proportion with a quality of life (QOL) score ≥ 5 rose from 82.5% to 88.9%. The proportions of patients exhibiting storage, voiding, and postmicturition symptoms in lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) increased from 77.3%, 21.7%, and 18.8% to 91.9%, 27.5%, and 25.5%, respectively; those manifesting hematuria and urinary retention increased from 0.9% and 0.6% to 2.3% and 1.7%, respectively; those with a prostate specific antigen (PSA) > 4 ng/ml rose from 10.0% to 15.1%; patients with a maximum flow rate (Qmax) < 15 ml/s increased from 82.5% to 92.3%, and the proportion with a Qmax < 10 ml/s increased from 8.7% to 15.4%; the individuals with a prostate volume > 30 ml increased from 94.1% to 97.0%; the percentage of men with a bladder residual urine volume > 10 ml was augmented from 81.6% to 89.3%, and patients with prostate nodules on physical examination were elevated from 1.0% to 1.7%. We uncovered no prostate cancer in patients, and the proportion of patients administered the combination drug increased from 78.9% to 91.2%. Compared with patients receiving online or telephone consultations, patients undergoing reexamination at the hospital were better controlled. When we conducted a survey of whether patients chose to go to a public or private hospital for follow-up, we found that 46.6% of the patients chose to go to a private medical institution. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 greatly affected the treatment of patients with BPH. When conditions permit, we recommend that patients first consider going to the hospital for evaluation; however, when this is not possible, medical institutions should provide telephone or online consultation for patients with BPH. Surgical treatment should also be arranged for those in need as soon as possible to avoid delaying the patient's treatment.