Mp55-18 Effect of Covid-19 Pandemic on Incidence of Idiopathic Scrotal and Groin Pain in Boys

You have accessJournal of UrologyPediatrics IV (MP55)1 May 2024MP55-18 EFFECT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON INCIDENCE OF IDIOPATHIC SCROTAL AND GROIN PAIN IN BOYS Kristen M. Meier, Maria Vargas, Gemma Beltran, Jennifer Pyrzanowski, Carter Sevick, Cindy Buchanan, Kyle O. Rove, and Marguerite Korber Kristen M. MeierKristen M. Meier , Maria VargasMaria Vargas , Gemma BeltranGemma Beltran , Jennifer PyrzanowskiJennifer Pyrzanowski , Carter SevickCarter Sevick , Cindy BuchananCindy Buchanan , Kyle O. RoveKyle O. Rove , and Marguerite KorberMarguerite Korber View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/01.JU.0001008616.01808.0f.18AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Research has shown an association with chronic pain and stress, noting worsening of pain conditions with psychosocial stressors. With the COVID-19 pandemic, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic symptoms have increased in children and adolescents. During the pandemic, our department saw an anecdotal increase in chronic pain of the scrotum and groin. This study sought to investigate how chronic groin pain rates changed during the pandemic at a single institution. METHODS: A retrospective review of males 7-18 years old seen as new clinic patients in the pediatric urology department for evaluation of idiopathic groin pain during the pre-pandemic period (3/26/2018–12/31/2019) or the pandemic period (3/26/2020–12/31/2021) was performed using EMR data and chart review. Patients must have had an ultrasound without clear etiology (e.g., torsion, epididymo-orchitis, etc). Explainable pain diagnoses were excluded. Patients presenting with undescended (UDT) were used as a comparator group, surmising underlying rates would not be affected by the pandemic, but the proportion would account for changes in access during the periods. Initial visits were analyzed. Differences within and between the two cohorts were analyzed using chi-square tests or Kruskal-Wallis tests. Differing proportion of psychiatric history between scrotal pain and UDT cohorts (pre-pandemic to pandemic) was analyzed using logistic regression on a 1-1 age matched cohort. Analyses were conducted using SAS v 9.4 (Cary, NC). RESULTS: 138 scrotal pain patients were analyzed (50 prepandemic, 88 pandemic). There was a higher proportion of scrotal pain patients in the pandemic group compared to the prepandemic group (21.5% vs 13.1%, p=0.002). Median age was 13 years old (IQR 4.9 years). 26.8% (37) were in the Emergency Department in the 3 months prior to clinic. 51.4% (71) had a normal ultrasound and 51.4% (71) had incidental findings that would not explain pain (e.g., epididymal cysts or microlithiasis). 18.8% (26) of scrotal pain patients had a psychiatric history; when comparing to the UDT group, there was little evidence for increased odds of psychiatric history with scrotal pain (OR 2.31, 95% CI 0.638–8.38, p=0.2018). CONCLUSIONS: There was an increase in patients presenting with scrotal pain during the pandemic after adjusting for access limitations. No association was found with psychiatric history and scrotal pain visits, though we are exploring how social determinants of health may be related. We feel it is important to improve awareness and promote access to psychosocial support for patients with this condition. Source of Funding: Pediatric Urology Research Enterprise (PURE) © 2024 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 211Issue 5SMay 2024Page: e923 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2024 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.Metrics Author Information Kristen M. Meier More articles by this author Maria Vargas More articles by this author Gemma Beltran More articles by this author Jennifer Pyrzanowski More articles by this author Carter Sevick More articles by this author Cindy Buchanan More articles by this author Kyle O. Rove More articles by this author Marguerite Korber More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...