COVID-19 vaccination has been found to cause some side effects on the lower urinary tract and overactive bladder in younger adults. A study published online on June 24 in Frontiers in Medicine reported these findings.
Marta de-la-Plaza-San-Frutos, from Universidad Europea de Madrid in Spain, and her team examined potential side effects of COVID-19 vaccination on the urinary tract. A total of 1,563 individuals (74.7 percent women and 27.3 percent men), aged 18 to 45 years, completed an online survey.
It was discovered that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was the most commonly administered, given to 42.2 percent of the participants. Most individuals received three doses. For those who received the AstraZeneca vaccine, a significantly higher proportion of women (59.1 percent) than men (33.3 percent) did not need to urinate during the night. In contrast, a higher proportion of individuals who received only one dose of any vaccine reported urinating five or more times at night (2.2 percent) compared to those who received three doses (0.1 percent).
“Based on the results obtained in this study, monitoring and addressing urinary tract side effects of COVID-19 vaccination are important,” the authors wrote. They suggested that vaccination programs should include the systematic collection of urinary tract side effect data. This will allow ongoing evaluation of vaccine safety and efficacy. Health care professionals should be alert to the possibility of patients experiencing urinary tract symptoms following COVID-19 vaccination.
Understanding Overactive Bladder (OAB)
Overactive bladder (OAB) is a condition where there is a frequent urge to urinate, often accompanied by incontinence. Causes of OAB include nerve signals between the bladder and brain not working properly, leading to bladder muscles contracting more often than necessary. Symptoms of OAB include a sudden urge to urinate, urinating more than eight times in 24 hours, and waking up more than once during the night to urinate. Treatment and management of OAB involve lifestyle changes, bladder training, and medications such as anticholinergics. Alternative treatments like pelvic floor exercises and biofeedback can also be effective.
Key Insights:
- COVID-19 vaccination can cause side effects on the lower urinary tract and bladder health in younger adults.
- Pfizer-BioNTech is the most frequently administered vaccine, with three doses being common.
- Women who received the AstraZeneca vaccine are less likely to urinate at night compared to men.
- Single-dose recipients are more likely to urinate five or more times during the night.
Source: Study published in Frontiers in Medicine on June 24, 2024