Does Prenatal SARS-CoV-2 Infection Exacerbate Postpartum Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms? A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study.

Yu Han LYU; Min LI; Hui Qing YAO; Tian Zi GAI; Lin LIANG; Su PAN; Ping Ping LI; Ya Xin LIANG; Yue YU; Xiao Mei WU; Min LI

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Does Prenatal SARS-CoV-2 Infection Exacerbate Postpartum Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms? A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study.

Author: Yu Han LYU ¹ ; Min LI ² ; Hui Qing YAO ³ ; Tian Zi GAI ⁴ ; Lin LIANG ⁴ ; Su PAN ² ; Ping Ping LI ¹ ; Ya Xin LIANG ⁵ ; Yue YU ¹ ; Xiao Mei WU ² ; Min LI ⁴
Author Information

1. Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Beijing 100730, China;Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China.
2. The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650032, Yunnan, China.
3. Clinical Trial Center, Beijing Hospital; National Center of Gerontology; Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Science; Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Clinical Risk and Personalized Medication Evaluation, Beijing 100730, China.
4. Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Beijing 100730, China.
5. The Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China.
Publication Type:Multicenter Study
Keywords: COVID-19 post-acute sequelae; Electromyography; Lower urinary tract symptoms; SARS-CoV-2
MeSH: Humans; Female; COVID-19/epidemiology*; Retrospective Studies; Adult; Pregnancy; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms/virology*; Postpartum Period; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/virology*; China/epidemiology*; Electromyography; SARS-CoV-2/physiology*; Pelvic Floor/physiopathology*; Prevalence
From: Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(9):1095-1104
CountryChina
Language:English
Abstract: OBJECTIVE:Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can result in fatigue and post-exertional malaise; however, whether severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection exacerbates lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) is unclear. This study investigated the association between prenatal SARS-CoV-2 infection and postpartum LUTS.
METHODS:A multicenter, retrospective cohort study was conducted at two tertiary hospitals in China from November 1, 2022, to November 1, 2023. Participants were classified into infected and uninfected groups based on SARS-CoV-2 antigen results. LUTS prevalence and severity were assessed using self-reported symptoms and the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-Short Form (IIQ-7). Pelvic floor muscle activity was measured using electromyography following the Glazer protocol. Group comparisons were performed to evaluate the association of SARS-CoV-2 infection with LUTS and electromyography parameters, with stratified analyses conducted using SPSS version 26.0.
RESULTS:Among 3,652 participants (681 infected, 2,971 uninfected), no significant differences in LUTS prevalence or IIQ-7 scores were observed. However, SARS-CoV-2 infection was an independent factor influencing the electromyographic activity of the pelvic floor muscles (mean tonic contraction amplitudes), regardless of delivery mode ( P = 0.001).
CONCLUSION:Prenatal SARS-CoV-2 infection was not significantly associated with an increased risk of postpartum LUTS but independently altered pelvic floor muscle electromyographic activity, suggesting potential neuromuscular effects.