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The following is a summary of “Epidemiology and management of urological emergencies in a tertiary care setting in Scandinavia,” published in the April 2025 issue of International Journal of Emergency Medicine by Osmancevic et al. 

Researchers conducted a retrospective study to establish a baseline database on the distribution and epidemiological profile of urological emergencies in a tertiary care setting to support health planning.  

They assessed all individuals who presented with urological emergencies at the Emergency Department (ED) of the NU Hospital Group in Trollhättan, Sweden, in 2019. The medical records of these individuals were reviewed to extract and summarize relevant clinical and demographic data.  

The results showed that in 2019, 2,433 individuals presented to the ED with urological complaints, with males accounting for 71% of the visits. The majority (83%) arrived through self-referral, while 15% were referred by general practitioners (GPs). The most reported symptoms included loin pain, infectious signs, and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Urinary and genital infections (UGIs) represented the most frequent diagnosis at 37%, followed by urolithiasis at 24%. Hospital admission was required in 28% of cases, with 42% related to UGIs. A higher admission rate was observed among self-referred individuals compared to those referred by GPs. Radiological imaging was conducted in 48% of visits, although 65% of these revealed no evidence of urological disease.  

Investigators concluded that self-referrals to the ED and high hospitalization rates, especially for UGIs, suggested that improved primary care management of urological emergencies and refined acute imaging guidelines could have led to more efficient healthcare resource utilization. 

Source: intjem.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12245-025-00882-8