Better outcomes with desmopressin melt than enuretic alarm therapy in children with nocturnal enuresis during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the treatment of children with primary monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis (MNE) with desmopressin melt versus an enuresis alarm.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study included 56 children with primary MNE who were taking desmopressin melt or using an alarm. Their anxiety levels were evaluated using the Social Anxiety Scale for Children-Revised. For both treatment methods, data from a 3-month bedwetting diary between the third and sixth months of the pre-pandemic treatment were compared with those assessed during the same period during the pandemic.

RESULTS

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the median 3-month mean frequency of MNE was 1 (0-7.67) in children using desmopressin melt versus 1.33 (0-6) in those using alarm treatment ( = 0.095). During the COVID-19 pandemic period, the median monthly mean frequency of MNE was 1.33 (0-7.33) in children using desmopressin melt versus 6 (1.33-13) in those using alarm treatment ( < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The COVID-19 pandemic and its accompanying psychological effects did not affect the treatment efficacy of desmopressin melt in children with primary MNE but did adversely affect that of enuresis alarms.