The effect of the pandemic period on Bladder Pain Syndrome patients under amitriptyline treatment

COVID-19 is a disease that may cause anxiety, depression, and stress. Bladder pain syndrome (BPS) is a disease in which stress and psychological factors might negatively affect its course. In this study, we aimed to examine the possible clinical aggregation of the pandemic period on BPS patients.

A total of 35 BPS patients diagnosed between 2010 and 2018 were included. All patients were using medical treatment, and the follow-up period was at least 6 months. According to our clinical follow-up protocol, the BPS patients were given the King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Overactive Bladder Form V8 (OAB-V8), and Visual Analog Score (VAS) in every visit. In the sixth month of the pandemic, the clinical course of the patients was questioned by telephone or video interview, and their treatment continuities were questioned. Information was received about the delays in their follow-up and the difficulties in accessing healthcare opportunities. The same questionnaires were filled out and compared with pre-pandemic scores.

The mean age of the patients included in the study was 50.2 ± 13.32 (min:20, max:74), 11 were males and 24 were females. The mean follow-up periods were 71.8 ± 35.6 months. All questionnaire scores showed an increase compared to the pre-pandemic period. A statistically significant increase was detected during the pandemic in all sub-units of the KHQ. The VAS and OAB-V8 scores of 16 patients who requested hospital admission were significantly higher than before the pandemic. However, there was no statistically significant difference in the increase in VAS and OAB-V8 scores of the 19 patients who refused to come to the hospital.

BPS patients have been negatively affected by the emotional effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the fear, stress, anxiety, and depression, the symptoms of BPS patients exacerbated, and the patients could not receive the necessary support due to a lack of regular follow-ups.