[Benign prostatic hyperplasia management during COVID-19 pandemia.]

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Public Health
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented challenges in healthcare delivery.
• Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are prevalent conditions with significant healthcare resource utilization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To revise and propose a management strategy for LUTS and BPH during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To provide recommendations for healthcare professionals managing these conditions amidst a global health crisis.

Main Methods:

• A panel of Spanish benign prostatic hyperplasia experts convened to develop a pandemic management strategy.
• A comprehensive literature review informed the generation of expert recommendations.

Main Results:

• Key recommendations include promoting telemedicine and establishing integrated protocols with primary care.
• Clear diagnostic, treatment, and referral criteria are essential, prioritizing high-risk complications.
• Elective BPH surgeries are advised to be postponed until pandemic phases I or II, with careful patient selection and technique choice.

Conclusions:

• Telemedicine and collaborative primary care-urology protocols are crucial for diagnosing and treating BPH during the pandemic.
• Delaying elective surgical interventions until specific pandemic phases, with individualized technique selection, is recommended to mitigate risks.