Validation of the urogenital distress inventory (UDI-6) and incontinence impact questionnaire (IIQ-7) in a Dutch population

Association of Vulvar Symptoms With Pelvic Organ Prolapse and Urinary Incontinence

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to compare vulvar symptoms between urogynecology patients diagnosed with urinary incontinence (UI) and/or pelvic organ prolapse to women presenting for annual gynecological care.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cross-sectional study. Vulvar symptoms (burning, pain, itching, dyspareunia, and discharge) were measured by asking respondents to rate the severity of each symptom from 0 (none) to 10 (most severe). Patient history, diagnoses, and the Urogenital Distress Inventory-6 (UDI-6) score were abstracted from records. Vulvar symptom results were categorized (0, none; 1-3), mild; ≥4, moderate to severe). Logistic regression models explored whether UI symptoms (UDI-6) and urogynecology diagnoses were associated with each vulvar symptom (moderate to severe vs none).

RESULTS

A total of 606 urogynecology patients grouped by the following urogynecology clinical diagnoses: UI (n = 230), prolapse (n = 193), UI + prolapse (n = 183), and 258 controls (general gynecology patients) were included. The mean (± SD) age (years) was 57.5 ± 16.1, 62.4 ± 13.9, 59.0 ± 14.9, and 41.3 ± 13.8 in the UI, prolapse, UI + prolapse, and control groups, respectively (p < .01). Increasing urinary symptoms were associated with all vulvar symptoms (odds ratio [OR], 1.1-1.2 for each 1 point increase in UDI-6; p < 0.05 for all). Prolapse and UI + prolapse diagnoses (compared with controls) were associated with vulvar burning (OR [95% confidence interval {CI}], 2.5 [1.2-5.0] and 2.9 [1.3-6.1] and pain (OR (95% CI), 3.6 [1.5-8.5] and 3.3 [1.4-8.2], respectively). Prolapse diagnoses were also associated with dyspareunia (OR [95% CI], 5.4 [2.2-13.3]).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with pelvic organ prolapse are more likely to report vulvar burning, pain, and dyspareunia than gynecologic control patients. Urinary symptoms were associated with all vulvar symptoms.

Predicting success after artificial urinary sphincter: which preoperative factors drive patient satisfaction postoperatively?

Background

To determine which preoperative factors drive patient-reported quality of life (QoL) after artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) implantation.

Methods

Men receiving AUS after prostate cancer treatment were identified from a prospectively collected dataset. Preoperative factors were recorded during the initial incontinence consultation. Patients underwent urodynamic testing (UDS) preoperatively at surgeon discretion. Patients were surveyed by telephone postoperatively and given the EPIC Urinary Domain (EPIC-UD) and Urinary Distress Inventory (UDI-6) questionnaires. Differences in postoperative maximum pads per day (MxPPD) and questionnaire scores were compared across preoperative factors, with P¡Ü0.05 indicating statistical significance.

Results

Telephone survey was completed by 101 of 238 patients (42%). Median age was 69 [63–75] years, BMI was 29 [26–32] kg/m². MxPPD was 5 [3–9] preoperatively and 2 [1–3] postoperatively (r=0.255, P=0.011). Postoperative median EPIC-UD was 82 [67–89] and UDI-6 was 22 [11–36]. Postoperative MxPPD was lower in patients who reported being able to store urine before AUS {2 [1–2] vs. 2 [1–4], P=0.046}, and lower with urodynamically-proven detrusor overactivity (DO) {1.5 [1–2] with vs. 2 [1–4] without, P=0.050}. Detrusor pressure at maximum flow was negatively associated with QoL as measured by EPIC-UD score (r=−0.346, P=0.013) and UDI-6 score (r=0.413, P=0.003). Although 41 (41%) patients had a history of radiation, postoperative outcomes did not significantly differ with or without a history of radiation.

Conclusions

Few preoperative factors predict QoL after AUS insertion.

The validation of the Dutch SF-Qualiveen, a questionnaire on urinary-specific quality of life, in spinal cord injury patients

BACKGROUND

Optimizing the patients' quality of life is one of the main goals in the urological management of spinal cord injury (SCI) patients. In this study we validated the Dutch SF-Qualiveen, a short questionnaire that measures the urinary-specific quality of life, in SCI patients. No such measure is yet available for this patient group.

METHODS

In 2015-2016 SCI patients with urinary symptomatology who visited the outpatient clinics of Urology at the Erasmus Medical Centre and Rehabilitation at Rijndam Revalidation completed the SF-Qualiveen and UDI-6 during the visit and 1-2 weeks later. The UDI-6, a urinary tract symptom inventory, served as gold standard. Controls, recruited from the Otolaryngology outpatient clinic, completed the questionnaires once. Content-, construct-, and criterion validity and reliability (internal consistency and reproducibility) of the SF-Qualiveen were determined.

RESULTS

Fifty seven SCI patients and 50 controls were included. 12 SCI patients asserted that the SF-Qualiveen covered their bladder problems (good content validity). Patients' SF-Qualiveen scores being positively associated with severity of urinary symptoms and patients' scores being higher than those of controls indicated good construct validity. The positive association that was found between SF-Qualiveen and UDI-6 in patients (r = 0.66-0.67, P < 0.001) and controls (r = 0.63, P < 0.001) confirmed good criterion validity. Internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha 0.89-0.92) and reproducibility (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.94) of the SF-Qualiveen were good.

CONCLUSIONS

The Dutch SF-Qualiveen is a valid and reliable tool to measure the urinary-specific quality of life in SCI patients.

Comparison of clean intermittent and transurethral indwelling catheterization for the treatment of overt urinary retention after vaginal delivery: a multicentre randomized controlled clinical trial

Introduction and hypothesis

Overt postpartum urinary retention (PUR) is the inability to void after delivery and affects up to 7% of patients. Clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) and transurethral indwelling catheterization (TIC) are both standard treatments, but have not previously been compared. Clinical guidelines on postpartum bladder management are lacking.

Methods

A total of 85 patients were randomised for TIC (n=45) and CIC (n=40). In total 68 patients (34 patients with TIC and 34 patients with CIC) completed the UDI-6 questionnaire 3 months after delivery.. Patients allocated to TIC received an indwelling catheter for 24 h and if necessary, another catheter for 48 h. Patients with CIC were intermittently catheterized or taught to self-catheterize until adequate voiding with a postvoid residual volume (PVRV) of <150 mL was achieved. The primary outcome was the presence of bothersome micturition symptoms as measured using the Dutch-validated Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6).

Results

Only seven patients (10%) reported bothersome micturition problems 3 months after delivery. No significant differences in the occurrence of micturition symptoms were found. Median PVRV was 800 mL in the CIC group and 650 mL in the TIC group. PVRV was ≥1,000 mL in 24% of the patients. The median duration of catheterization was significantly shorter in the CIC group than in the TIC group (12 h vs. 24 h, p < 0,01). In patients with CIC, 35% required only one catheterization before complete bladder emptying occurred. The duration of treatment was not related to the initial PVRV. Both treatments were equally well accepted by the patients.

Conclusions

In patients with overt PUR, CIC is the preferred treatment as a considerable percentage of patients appear to be over-treated when the standard duration of TIC is 24 h. The occurrence of micturition symptoms is not associated with the catheterization method used. CIC is well tolerated in patients with overt PUR.

High-power Magnetotherapy: A New Weapon in Urinary Incontinence?

OBJECTIVE

Urinary incontinence (UI) is one of the most common urinary system diseases that mostly affects women but also men. We evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of functional magnetic stimulation (FMS) as potential UI treatment with improvements in the pelvic floor musculature, urodynamic tests and quality of life.

METHODS

A total of 20 UI patients (10 females and 10 men, mean age 64, 14 years), including 10 with stress UI, four with urgency UI and six with mixed UI, were treated with FMS (20 min/session) twice a week for 3 weeks. The patients' impressions, records in urinary diaries, and scores of three life stress questionnaires (overactive bladder symptom questionnaire [OAB-q], urogenital distress inventory questionnaire-short form [UDI-6], incontinence impact questionnaire-short form [IIQ-7]) were performed pre- and post-treatment.

RESULTS

Significant reductions (P < 0.01) of micturition number and nocturia after magnetic treatment were evidenced. The urodynamic tests recorded a significant increase in cystometric capacity (147 ± 51.3%), in maximum urethral closure pressure (110 ± 34%), in urethral functional length (99.8 ± 51.8%), and in pressure transmission ratio (147 ± 51.3%) values compared with the baseline values.

CONCLUSIONS

These preliminary findings suggest that FMS with Magneto STYM (twice weekly for 3 weeks) improves the UI and may be an effective treatment for this urogenital disease.

Development and validation of the Polish version of the Urogenital Distress Inventory short form and the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire short form

OBJECTIVE

The Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ) measures the impact of urinary incontinence on activities, roles, and emotional states of women, whereas the Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI) measures how troubling the symptoms are. The aim of this study was to develop and assess the effectiveness of a Polish version of the IIQ and UDI.

STUDY DESIGN

The translation into Polish followed standardized procedures. 206 women aged between 31 and 83 years were included into the study. All patients were recruited from women attending the Outpatient Clinic of the 2nd Gynecology Department of the Medical University in Lublin. SUI was observed in 116 cases; OAB in 16 patients and 24 had MUI (confirmed by medical history, bladder diary and urodynamic investigation). 50 healthy women served as control. All patients completed the Polish version of the ICIQ - 'the gold standard' in UI diagnosis - as well as the newly translated Polish versions of the UDI-6 and IIQ-7 questionnaires at baseline. Moreover, 116 women repeated the UDI-6 and IIQ-7 self-assessment again 7days later.

RESULTS

The internal consistency was tested by calculating Cronbach's alpha, using baseline scores. The high reliability of the scale indicates a value greater than 0.7. The reliability was calculated by way of the Intraclass Correlation (ICC) and was considered acceptable when ICC was≥0.7. In fact, ICC in all investigated groups was >0.95. The Cronbach's alpha values were as follows: for SUI patients - 0.74; for OAB - 0.78; and for MUI - 0.28 (the UDI-6 total score for the whole study group was 0.72). Cronbach's alpha total score for IIQ-7-0.89 (SUI group - 0.89; OAB group - 0.93; and MUI group - 0.77). Finally, the Cronbach's alpha total score for the ICIQ Questionnaire was 0.73 (SUI group - 0.71; OAB group - 0.65 and MUI group - 0.81).

CONCLUSIONS

The Polish versions of the UDI-6 and IIQ-7 Questionnaires are reliable, valid, and responsive instruments for assessing the severity of symptoms and quality of life in females suffering from urinary incontinence.

What questionnaires to use when measuring quality of life in sacral tumor patients: the updated sacral tumor survey

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Patient-reported outcomes are becoming increasingly important when investigating results of patient and disease management. In sacral tumor, the symptoms of patients can vary substantially; therefore, no single questionnaire can adequately account for the full spectrum of symptoms and disability.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study is to analyze redundancy within the current sacral tumor survey and make a recommendation for an updated version based on the results and patient and expert opinions.

STUDY DESIGN/SETTING

A survey study from a tertiary care orthopedic oncology referral center was used.

PATIENT SAMPLE

The patient sample included 70 patients with sacral tumors (78% chordoma).

OUTCOME MEASURES

The following 10 questionnaires included in the current sacral tumor survey were evaluated: the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Global Item short form, PROMIS Pain Intensity short form, PROMIS Pain Interference short form, PROMIS Neuro-QOL v1.0 Lower Extremity Function short form, PROMIS v1.0 Anxiety short form, the PROMIS v1.0 Depression short form, the International Continence Society Male short form, the Modified Obstruction-Defecation Syndrome questionnaire, the PROMIS Sexual Function Profile v1.0, and the Stoma Quality of Life tool.

METHODS

We performed an exploratory factor analysis to calculate the possible underlying latent traits. Spearman rank correlation coefficients were used to measure to what extent the questionnaires converged. We hypothesized the existence of six domains based on current literature: mental health, physical health, pain, gastrointestinal symptoms, sexual function, and urinary incontinence. To assess content validity, we surveyed 32 patients, 9 orthopedic oncologists, 1 medical oncologist, 1 radiation oncologist, and 1 orthopedic oncology nurse practitioner with experience in treating sacral tumor patients on the relevance of the domains.

RESULTS

Reliability as measured by Cronbach alpha ranged from 0.65 to 0.96. Coverage measured by floor and ceiling effects ranged from 0% to 52% and from 0% to 30%, respectively. Explanatory factor analysis identified three traits to which the questionnaires that were expected to measure a similar construct correlated the most: mental health, physical function, and pain. Content validity index demonstrated low disagreement among patients (range: 0.10-0.18) and high agreement among physicians (range: 0.91-1.0) on the relevance of the proposed domains. Social health was identified by 50% of the commenting patients as an important yet missing domain.

CONCLUSIONS

The current sacral tumor survey is incomplete and time-consuming, and not all surveys are appropriate for the sacral tumor population. Our recommended survey contains less than half the questions and includes the newly recognized social health domain.

Results of an innovative bulking agent in patients with stress urinary incontinence who are not optimal candidates for mid-urethral sling surgery

AIMS

To assess the efficacy and safety of peri-urethral bulking injections (PBI) with an innovative bulking material (PDMS-U) in women with stress-urinary incontinence (SUI) who are not optimal candidates for mid-urethral sling surgery.

METHODS

A prospective study was performed in women with SUI who, for several reasons, have a relative contraindication for a mid-urethral sling procedure. These reasons include: (i) recurrent SUI after a prior SUI surgical procedure; (ii) a history of oncologic gynaecological surgery; (iii) a history of neurologic disease resulting in voiding problems; (iv) a maximal flow rate of less than 15 mL per second or; (v) women with a contraindication for surgery with general or regional anaesthesia. All women were treated with PBI consisting of PDMS-U, a bulking agent that polymerizes in situ. The primary outcome was subjective improvement, defined as "a little better" to "very much better" on the PGI-I. Secondary outcomes included objective cure, disease specific quality of life and adverse events.

RESULTS

Subjective improvement was reported by 18 (90%) of the 20 included patients. The subjective cure rate was 56% and the objective cure rate was 65%. There was a statistically significant improvement of all domain scores of the UDI-6, IIQ-7, and PISQ-12 at 6 months follow up. Abnormal post voiding residual volume (>150 mL) was the most common adverse event (40%), but persisted in only one patient, based on the patient's preference for a catheter.

CONCLUSIONS

PBI with PDMS-U is a viable treatment option in women with a relative contra-indication for mid-urethral sling surgery.

Movement System Impairment-Guided Approach to the Physical Therapist Treatment of a Patient With Postpartum Pelvic Organ Prolapse and Mixed Urinary Incontinence: Case Report

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Women with postpartum pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and urinary incontinence are often treated by physical therapists specializing in women's health. Movement system impairments often coexist in this patient population. The purpose of this case report is to describe the physical therapist treatment of a woman with postpartum POP complicated by additional pelvic symptoms.

CASE DESCRIPTION

A 31-year-old woman presented with postpartum POP, diastasis recti, urinary incontinence, and constipation. Movement system impairments were consistent with a physical therapist diagnosis of femoral adduction-medial rotation syndrome exacerbated by levator ani muscle weakness and incoordination and impaired intra-abdominal pressure regulation. Interventions, based on a movement system guided approach, included postural correction; pelvic-floor, abdominal, and hip muscle strengthening; functional training to correct identified movement faults; and patient education.

OUTCOMES

Movement system impairment outcomes included: correction of femoral adduction-medial rotation and knee hyperextension during standing at rest, ambulation, and exercise; increased hip muscle strength; and effective regulation of intra-abdominal pressure (resolution of breath holding with the Valsalva maneuver) during all transitional movements and therapeutic exercise. The patient also demonstrated reductions in POP, urinary, and colorectal symptom severity that exceeded the minimal clinically important difference. Additionally, she demonstrated a reduction in diastasis rectus distance.

DISCUSSION

A movement system impairment-guided approach led the physical therapist to consider impairments outside the pelvic floor that could have contributed to the patient's pelvic symptoms. Using this approach, the patient achieved resolution of musculoskeletal and movement impairments and reductions in POP, urinary and colorectal symptoms, and symptom-related distress.

Recent research on the role of urodynamic study in the diagnosis and treatment of male lower urinary tract symptoms and urinary incontinence

Although evidence shows that urodynamic study may not improve outcomes, it can be used to evaluate men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTSs) which have not been adequately delineated and treated. In young men with LUTS not responding to treatment based on clinical examination, or elderly men with LUTS and incontinence, a complete urodynamic evaluation is mandatory to understand the pathophysiology underlying LUTS, such as bladder outlet obstruction (BOO), detrusor overactivity, and detrusor underactivity. Preoperative urodynamic study-proven BOO is a predictor of a successful surgical outcome. An urodynamic study should be performed when patients with LUTS are planning to undergo surgical treatment for benign prostatic obstruction.

A New Implanted Posterior Tibial Nerve Stimulator for the Treatment of Overactive Bladder Syndrome: 3-Month Results of a Novel Therapy at a Single Center

PURPOSE

This study was designed to investigate the safety and performance of a new implantable system for tibial nerve stimulation for overactive bladder symptoms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A battery-free stimulation device for tibial nerve stimulation (BlueWind Medical, Herzliya, Israel) was implanted in 15 patients. Safety and efficacy assessments were done at 3 months after activation with a 3-day bladder diary, a 24-hour pad test and 2 quality of life questionnaires.

RESULTS

Two males and 13 females were enrolled in the study. Mean age was 54 years (range 19 to 72). Five of 15 patients were previously treated with percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation and 12 experienced urgency urinary incontinence. Median operative time was 34 minutes. At 3 months of followup a significant change was seen in 24-hour frequency from a mean ± SD of 11.8 ± 3.5 to 8.1 ± 2.0 times per day (p = 0.002), the number of severe urinary urgency episodes from 6.5 ± 5.1 to 2.0 ± 2.1 times per day (p = 0.002), the number of severe incontinence episodes from 2.8 ± 5.2 to 0.3 ± 0.4 episodes per day (p = 0.017), urinary loss per day from 243 ± 388 to 39 ± 55 gm (p = 0.038) and improvement in quality of life. After implantation, 3 patients received prolonged antibiotic treatment and 3 received pain medication for 1 week. In 1 patient the device was explanted due to pain and swelling suspicious for infection, although tissue cultures did not reveal a bacterial infection.

CONCLUSIONS

This novel posterior tibial nerve stimulator is safe and easy to implant with good clinical results.

Analysis of Physical Therapy Intervention Outcomes for Urinary Incontinence in Women Older Than 65 Years in Outpatient Clinical Settings

BACKGROUND

Conservative interventions provided by physical therapists for the treatment of bladder control problems in adult females are strongly supported in the literature and in clinical practice guidelines. However, physical therapy (PT) intervention outcomes specifically for women over the age of 65 with urinary incontinence (UI) in outpatient settings in the United States have not been extensively reported.

OBJECTIVES

To provide preliminary PT intervention outcome data specific to female patients over the age of 65 receiving outpatient physical therapy for urinary incontinence.

DESIGN

Preliminary retrospective analysis of a convenience sample of women ages 65 to 93.

METHODS

Women over the age of 65 with UI who were referred to outpatient PT and answered "YES" to a UI screening question at intake completed 3 UI surveys (3 Incontinence Questions (3IQ), Incontinence Impact Questionnaire Short-Form (IIQ-7) and the International Consultation on Incontinence Modular Questionnaire- Urinary Incontinence (ICIQ-UI). Patients received individualized treatment provided by a physical therapist. Physical therapists were asked to administer the surveys again during and/or after treatment. Demographic, clinical, and health related quality of life (HRQoL) data were collected. Frequency of UI types, UI symptoms, and impact of QoL were analyzed. Paired samples t-test was used to evaluate the change in measures between the initial survey and a follow up survey.

RESULTS

Surveys were collected from 62 women. Significant changes in scores on two outcome measures (ICIQ-UI and IIQ-7) indicated significant reductions in UI symptom severity and improvements in UI- related HRQoL after undergoing individualized physical therapy treatment for UI.

LIMITATIONS

The study population was a convenience sample. Data on treatment interventions was not collected.

CONCLUSIONS

Individualized interventions provided by physical therapists have the potential to significantly improve symptom severity and HRQoL in women over age 65 with different types of UI.

Robot-Assisted Sacrocolporectopexy for Multicompartment Prolapse of the Pelvic Floor: A Prospective Cohort Study Evaluating Functional and Sexual Outcome

BACKGROUND

Pelvic floor disorders are a major public health issue. For female genital prolapse, sacrocolpopexy is the gold standard. Laparoscopic ventral mesh rectopexy is a relatively new and promising technique correcting rectal prolapse. There is no literature combining the 2 robotically assisted techniques.

OBJECTIVE

This study was designed to evaluate the safety, quality of life, and functional and sexual outcomes of robot-assisted sacrocolporectopexy for multicompartment prolapse of the pelvic floor.

DESIGN

This was a prospective, observational cohort study.

SETTINGS

The study was conducted in a tertiary care setting.

PATIENTS

All sexually active patients undergoing robot-assisted sacrocolporectopexy at our institution between 2012 and 2014 were included.

INTERVENTION

Robot-assisted sacrocolporectopexy was the study intervention.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Preoperative and postoperative (12 months) questionnaires using the Urinary Distress Inventory, Pescatori Incontinence Scale, Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire, and Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire were completed. In addition Wexner and Vaizey incontinence scores and the Wexner constipation score were recorded postoperatively.

RESULTS

Fifty-one patients underwent robot-assisted sacrocolporectopexy (median follow-up, 12.5 months). The simplified Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification improved significantly (p < 0.0005) for all 4 of the anatomic landmarks. Both median fecal (preoperative and postoperative Pescatori 4 vs 3, p = 0.002) and urinary incontinence scores (Urinary Distress Inventory, 27.8 vs 22.2; p < 0.0005) improved significantly at 12 months. Postoperatively median Wexner (3) and Vaizey incontinence (6) and Wexner Constipation (7) scores were noted. A positive effect on sexual function (Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire score 31.8 vs 35.9; p = 0.002) and quality of life for each compartment (p < 0.0005) was observed. One patient (2%) developed mesh erosion. No multicompartment recurrences were detected.

LIMITATIONS

This was a observational study with a limited follow-up, no control group, and no preoperatively validated constipation score.

CONCLUSIONS

Robot-assisted sacrocolporectopexy is a safe and effective technique for multicompartment prolapse in terms of functional outcome, quality of life, and sexual function.

Results of collagen sling placement following the partial removal of a synthetic midurethral sling

OBJECTIVE

To assess results of placement of the Pelvilace collagen sling following partial removal of a primary synthetic sling because of late complications.

METHODS

A retrospective study was undertaken of patients with late complications after midurethral sling surgery who underwent placement of a Pelvilace sling at a center in the Netherlands between January 2006 and January 2011. A postoperative questionnaire was used to evaluate the continence status and continence-related quality of life. Patients scoring 0 in the Urogenital Distress Inventory stress symptoms section were considered cured. The subjective improvement or deterioration in symptoms was scored using the Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I).

RESULTS

The questionnaire was completed and returned by 32 (84%) of 38 patients after a mean follow-up of 54.3 months. Nine (28%) patients were deemed cured. Among 29 patients who had not undergone a third surgery, the PGI-I showed a postoperative improvement in 14 (48%). The other 15 patients rated their postoperative situation as little improved, unchanged, or deteriorated. Further subanalysis showed clear differences in postoperative results between the different types of late complications (erosion and/or displacement).

CONCLUSION

The concomitant placement of a collagen sling following partial removal of a primary polypropylene sling shows reasonable results for specific complications.

Five-year experience with the adjustable transobturator male system for the treatment of male stress urinary incontinence: a single-center evaluation

BACKGROUND

We report on our 5-year experience with the adjustable transobturator male system (ATOMS^®, A.M.I., Feldkirch, Austria).

METHODS

Between 10-2009 and 10-2014, 54 patients received an ATOMS. The mean follow-up of this retrospective observational trial was 27.5 ± 18.4 (2.3-59) months. Within each follow-up, the following were evaluated: micturition protocol, 24-h pad count, uroflowmetry and residual volume. Statistical analysis was performed with SigmaPlot^® 11.0, p < 0.05 considered as significant.

RESULTS

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) I°, II° and III° was seen in 1 (1.9 %), 16 (29.6 %) and 37 patients (68.5 %), respectively. In summary, 48.1 % of the patients became "dry" (0-"safty pad"/day), while 29.6 % achieved at least an "improvement" of about more than 50 % (1-2 pads/day), which corresponds to an overall success rate of 77.7 %. The mean number of pads/day decreased from 7.7 to 1.6. Regarding the initial degree of SUI, patients with mild or moderate incontinence had a significantly better outcome (p = 0.002, 95 % CI 0.9066 to 2.760). Postoperative complications were scaled according to the Clavien classification, in which we have seen 4 grade I-, 1 grade IIIa- and 9 grade IIIb-complications (overall 25.9 %). The evaluation of quality of life by ICIQ-SF showed a significant improvement (p = 0.0001, 95 % CI -14.56 to -11.75).

CONCLUSION

The treatment of male SUI using the ATOMS incontinence system achieved the best results in patients with mild and moderate incontinence. For severe incontinent patients, the system represents an efficient alternative.

Knowledge of pelvic organ prolapse in patients and their information-seeking preferences: comparing Vienna and Moscow

Introduction and hypothesis

We hypothesized that knowledge of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and patient information-seeking preferences are the same in the two capital cities.

Methods

First-visit patients were recruited at tertiary referral urogynaecological units in Vienna (137) and in Moscow (112). A 16-item scale was used to assess the patient knowledge of POP. The 16 items comprised 12 specific items taken from the Prolapse and Incontinence Knowledge Questionnaire (PIKQ) and four added items. The preliminary psychometric assessment of the knowledge scales in German and Russian was performed in the Vienna and in Moscow centres.

Results

The mean total knowledge scores in patients in Vienna and in Moscow were not significantly different: 9.7 ± 3.5 vs. 9.8 ± 2.9 (p = 0.92). Patients in Vienna were more likely to answer questions about the pathogenesis of POP correctly. Patients in Moscow achieved higher scores for items assessing knowledge about the diagnosis of POP. Women in the two study groups equally preferred to obtain information about POP from medical specialists (72 % and 82 %; p = 0.61), followed by friends and family for patients in Vienna (25 %), and the internet for patients in Moscow (23 %). Patients in Vienna were more likely to use printed sources (18 % and 7 %; p = 0.001) than patients in Moscow.

Conclusions

The mean level of knowledge of POP did not differ between patients in Vienna and patients in Moscow. The differences between the specific knowledge domains might be explained by different cultural preferences for seeking health information and by the range of the information sources available.

Anal incontinence and vesico-sphincter events in systemic sclerosis: An epidemiologic bicentric cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the frequency and severity of anal incontinence and vesico-sphincter events, associated factors, and impact on the quality of life of patients with systemic sclerosis.

METHODS

Questionnaires assessing anal incontinence (Miller score), vesico-sphincter events (Urogenital Distress Inventory) and quality of life [Short Form Health Survey 36v2 (SF-36), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale] were mailed to 139 patients with systemic sclerosis at the university hospitals of Besançon and Poitiers, France. Clinical data were collected from the medical records to identify risk factors.

RESULTS

Among the 121 (87%) responders, severe vesico-sphincter events or severe anal incontinence occurred in 3.4% and 12.4% of cases, respectively. Frequent urination (66.3%) and anal incontinence to gas (50.4%) were the most frequent symptoms. Anal incontinence was associated positively with vesico-sphincter events, unrelated to obstetrical factors. No correlations were seen with age, sex, or systemic sclerosis characteristics. In multivariate analysis, moderate or severe vesico-sphincter events was associated with higher anxiety and depression scores and lower SF-36 scores; the same results were observed for anal incontinence, but did not reach significance.

CONCLUSION

Vesico-sphincter events and anal incontinence are common in systemic sclerosis, and sometimes severe, with a potential negative impact in quality of life. These results will be confirmed by a case-control study with dynamic and manometric assessment, and could legitimate a systematic screening to ensure early therapy and multidisciplinary individual management.

Intermittent sacral neuromodulation for idiopathic urgency urinary incontinence in women

AIMS

SNM has been proven to be effective in the treatment of refractory UUI. Total costs and patient burden due to regular battery changes may prevent broad implementation of this treatment. The aim was to achieve a minimal improvement of 50% in incontinence episodes compared to pre-SNM by using iSNM.

METHODS

This prospective cohort study was performed in women with UUI receiving treatment with SNM for a minimum of 6 months. The neurostimulator was programmed to 8 hr "on" and 16 hr "off" per day for 12 weeks. Prior to iSNM, data were collected during no SNM and cSNM. Bladder diaries and various patient reported outcome measures were collected at predetermined time points: 1-5 weeks, and 8, 12, and 16 weeks. Nonparametric tests were used for the statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Of the 19 patients 63% showed an improvement of >50% of incontinence episodes during iSNM compared to pre-SNM. Bladder diary parameters showed a difference between pre-SNM and iSNM median (P-value); incontinence episodes/24 hr, 4.1-1.0 (P = 0.04), incontinence severity, 2.0-1.0 (P = 0.001), voiding episodes/24 hr, 13.0-8.0 (P = 0.001), and voided volume, 149-219 ml (P = 0.04). The UDI-6, 50.0-27.8 (P = 0.03), and the IIQ-7 scores, 50.0-9.5 (P = 0.04) also showed a significant improvement. No difference was demonstrated between iSNM and cSNM.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared to pre-SNM parameters, iSNM shows an improvement in both objective and subjective outcomes. Specifically no difference was found between iSNM and cSNM, indicating that iSNM could be a feasible and cost-effective alternative. Neurourol. Urodynam. 36:385-389, 2017. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The measurement properties of the five-item International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5): a Dutch validation study

Erectile dysfunction (ED), affecting men worldwide, is associated with worse mental health. The severity of ED as well as the effect of its treatment can be assessed using valid self-reported outcome measures. A widely used measure is the International Index of Erectile Function short form (IIEF-5) which is not yet validated in Dutch. The objective of this study was to translate the IIEF-5 into Dutch and to investigate its reliability and validity to provide a useful evaluation tool. The IIEF-5 was translated into Dutch following standardized forward-backward procedures. To conduct this observational study, men with symptoms of ED completed the Dutch IIEF-5 at inclusion, 1 week later, and 6 months after inclusion. A population-based sample (reference group) completed the IIEF-5 once. The quality domains reliability and validity were addressed by testing the measurement properties internal consistency, reliability, measurement error, and content validity. Data of 82 patients and 253 reference group participants were analyzed. Internal consistency was adequate with Cronbach's alpha of 0.94 in both patient and reference group. In patients, the test-retest reliability was adequate with an intra-class correlation coefficient for agreement of 0.88. A floor effect was present in the patient group (42%), though not in the reference group (3%). There was no ceiling effect in patients (0%), while this was present in the reference group (17%). Analysis of responsiveness was not possible due to the limited number of patients receiving treatment. The Dutch IIEF-5 is a reliable and valid measure to determine severity of symptoms of ED. This evaluation tool is valuable for clinical use and interpreting results across international clinical studies. The context of a patient's sexual life is, however, indispensable and should be taken into account.

Public Restroom Habits in Patients After Artificial Urinary Sphincter Implantation

OBJECTIVE

To investigate public restroom habits with secondary outcomes evaluating health-related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes in our patients who underwent artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) implantation after prostatectomy. Postprostatectomy incontinence is a significant burden on patients' emotional health and ability to perform activities of daily living.

METHODS

Between June 2012 and January 2014, we identified 50 men who had undergone AUS placement for postprostatectomy incontinence. All 50 men completed baseline Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite-Urinary Domain (EPIC-UD) and Urogenital Distress Inventory Short Form (UDI-6) questionnaires preoperatively. We evaluated patients' subjective postoperative continence status using the UDI-6 and EPIC-UD scales via a telephone-administered questionnaire.

RESULTS

Thirty-one of 50 patients (62%) were contacted and agreed to participate in the study. The pad score decreased significantly from 3 (median = 3 pads per day [ppd]; interquartile range [IQR] = 2) during minimal activity before surgery to 1 (median = 1.0 ppd; IQR = 0.5) after surgery (P <.001), and from 5 pads (median =5 ppd; IQR = 5) during strenuous activity to 1 pad (median = 1 ppd; IQR = 2; P <.001). QoL analysis pre- and post-AUS revealed a score increase of 16.5 points (P <.007) in EPIC-UD and an increase of 23.93 (P <.022) in UDI-6. Men reporting lower ppd before AUS placement were more likely to report higher public restroom urinal use (R = 0.366; P <.043) and increased public restroom comfort level (R = 0.342; P <.060) as compared with men with higher preoperative ppd usage.

CONCLUSION

EPIC-UD and UDI-6 scores improved significantly and demonstrated high levels of correlation to self-reported ppd; however, both failed to show any correlation to patients' comfort level with public restrooms. The single predictor of patients' comfort was self-reported ppd with minimal activity.

The Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12): validation of the Dutch version

Objectives and hypothesis

To establish the reliability and validity of the Dutch version of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12) in women with pelvic floor dysfunction.

Methods

The PISQ-12 was translated into Dutch following a standardized translation process. A group of 124 women involved in a heterosexual relationship who had had symptoms of urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence and/or pelvic organ prolapse for at least 3 months were eligible for inclusion. A reference group was used for assessment of discriminative ability. Data were analyzed for internal consistency, reproducibility, construct validity, responsiveness, and interpretability. An alteration was made to item 12 and was corrected for during the analysis.

Results

The patient group comprised 70 of the 124 eligible women, and the reference group comprised 208 women from a panel representative of the Dutch female population. The Dutch PISQ-12 showed an adequate internal consistency with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.57 – 0.69, increasing with correction for item 12 to 0.69 – 0.75, for the reference and patient group, respectively. Scores in the patient group were lower (32.6 ± 6.9) than in the reference group (36.3 ± 4.8; p = 0.0001), indicating a lower sexual function in the patient group and good discriminative ability. Reproducibility was excellent with an intraclass correlation coefficient for agreement of 0.93 (0.88 – 0.96). A positive correlation was found with the Short Form-12 Health Survey (SF-12) measure representing good criterion validity. Due to the small number of patients who had received treatment at the 6-month follow-up, no significant responsiveness could be established.

Conclusions

This study showed that the Dutch version of the PISQ-12 has good validity and reliability. The PISQ-12 will enable Dutch physicians to evaluate sexual dysfunction in women with pelvic floor disorders.

The incontinence impact questionnaire-7 (IIQ-7) can be applicable to Chinese males and females with lower urinary tract symptoms

AIM AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to extend the scope of application of the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-7 (IIQ-7) with the objective of assessing the applicability, validity, reliability and sensitivity of the IIQ-7 in both Chinese males and females with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

METHODS

The validity, reliability and sensitivity were assessed in 233 patients who were recruited in Hong Kong primary-care settings. The internal construct validity was assessed by corrected item-total correlation. The convergent validity was assessed using Pearson's correlation test against International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) quality-of-life question and Short Form 12, version 2 (SF-12v2). The reliability was assessed by the internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficient) and 2-week test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient and paired t test). The sensitivity was determined by performing known group comparisons by independent t test.

RESULTS

Corrected item-total correlations were ≥0.4 for all items in males and females. Overall, the IIQ-7 total score had a stronger correlation with IPSS quality-of-life score than the SF-12v2. The IIQ-7 showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficient >0.7) and good test-retest reliability (ICC > 0.8, paired t test p value >0.05). The IIQ-7 was more sensitive than the SF-12v2 to detect differences among patients with different levels of symptom severity.

CONCLUSIONS

The IIQ-7 Chinese version appears to be a valid and reliable measure to assess Cantonese-speaking males and females with LUTS. The IIQ-7 is more sensitive than generic health-related quality-of-life measures to detect differences between groups.