INTRODUCTION
In late December 2019, a group of patients were identified with pneumonia with unknown aetiology in Wuhan, Hubei, China, and eventually, severe acute respiratory syndrome - coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV 2) was identified by lower respiratory tract samples.1Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-2019) outbreak, which infected over 1.5 million people and caused more than 92000 deaths, especially affects the elderly with comorbid diseases and male population.2,3Symptoms of COVID-19 infection range from asymptomatic disease to acute respiratory infection and can be potentially fatal in the elderly, over 65 years of age, and those with comorbidity. Transmission routes involve droplets and close contact. Diagnosis is made by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of the sputum, nasopharyngeal swab or other samples.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is also a worldwide disease directly related to aging, and is especially common among older men. With transitioning to an aging society, the incidence and prevalence of symptomatic BPH increased rapidly.4 Prevalence of BPH is about 25.3% among men aged 40-79, and more than 50% among men aged 60 and over.5 Considering that COVID-19 pandemic affecting older and male patients more, it is obvious that the elderly male population with BPH will be seriously affected by this pandemic. According to our literature review, there are no studies examining the clinical features, course and outcomes of COVID-19 disease in patients diagnosed with BPH.
In our study, we aimed to present our clinical and laboratory experiences related to patients diagnosed with BPH, also known to be followed up and treated in our hospital due to COVID-19. We also aimed to contribute to the information about COVID-19 which is an urgent need.