Incidence and remission of stress, urge, and mixed urinary incontinence in midlife and older women: A longitudinal cohort study

Prevalence of depression and anxiety in women with pelvic floor dysfunctions: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Female pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) is a common condition affecting the emotional well-being of women.

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms in women with PFD. SEARCH STRATEGY, SELECTION CRITERIA, DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Following prospective registration (PROSPERO CRD42022362095) we conducted a search of three electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus) from inception to April 2023 without language restriction to capture studies reporting the prevalence of depression/anxiety among women with PFD (chronic pelvic pain [CPP], urinary incontinence [UI], pelvic organ prolapse [POP], and/or fecal incontinence [FI]). Only studies with validated tools were included. Data extraction and study quality assessment were performed by two independent reviewers. Stratifying by type of PFD, rates of depression and anxiety were pooled using random effects model computing 95% confidence interval (CI) and assessing heterogeneity using the I2 statistic. Funnel plots were used to detect potential reporting biases and small-study effects.

MAIN RESULTS

The search yielded 767 articles, from which 54 studies containing 632 605 women were included. All the studies were high quality. The prevalence of depression was: CPP 26.8% (95% CI: 19.2-34.4, I2 = 98.7%; 12 studies, 4798 participants with 491 cases; Egger's P value = 0.009); UI 26.3% (95% CI: 19.4-33.2, I2 = 99.9%; 26 studies, a total of 346 114 participants with 25 050 cases; Egger's P value = 0.944); POP 34.9% (95% CI: 24.3-45.6, I2 = 68%; three studies, 297 participants with 104 cases; Egger's P value = 0.973); and FI 25.3% (95% CI: 0.68-49.9, I2 = 99.7%; six studies, 14 663 participants with 1773 cases; Egger's P value = 0.780). The prevalence of anxiety was: CPP 29.5% (95% CI: 16.3-42.7, I2 = 97.7%; nine studies, 2483 participants with 349 cases; Egger's P value = 0.001); UI 46.91% (95% CI: 39.1-54.6, I2 = 99.6%; 11 studies, 198 491 participants with 40 058 cases; Egger's P value = 0.337); and POP 28% (95% CI: 13.6-42.4, I2 = 89%; three studies with 355 participants with 90 cases; Egger's P value = 0.306).

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of mental health illness was variable in the different types of PFDs. This meta-analysis helps quantify the burden of depression and anxiety in PFD and will help inform the policies regarding screening of emotional well-being by healthcare professionals engaged in care of women with PFD.

Clinical practice guideline for acupuncture and moxibustion: Female urinary incontinence

Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common problem worldwide. It has a major impact on physical and social activities and interpersonal relationships. UI is common in women, but is under-reported and under-treated. It affects the quality of life of female patients severely. Acupuncture and moxibustion have been proposed as potentially effective interventions for female UI. Hence, for the benefit of acupuncture practitioners around the world, the World Federation of Acupuncture-moxibustion Societies initiated a project to develop a clinical practice guideline (CPG) for the use of acupuncture and moxibustion to treat female UI. This CPG was developed according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology, referring to the principles of the World Health Organization Handbook for Guideline Development. During the development of the CPG, the guideline development group (GDG) played an important role. The clinical questions, recommendations and therapeutic protocols were all formulated by GDG using the modified Delphi method. This CPG contains ten recommendations about the use of acupuncture and moxibustion interventions for ten clinical questions, which include nine conditional recommendations for the intervention and one conditional recommendation for either the intervention or the comparison. This CPG also provides one protocol for conventional filiform needle therapy, two therapy protocols for deep needling stimulation on lumbosacral acupoints, and four moxibustion therapy protocols, based on the protocols presented in randomized controlled trials reviewed by the GDG. Please cite this article as: Yang C, Wang SZ, Chen S, Du S, Wang GQ, Guo W, Xie XL, Peng BH, Du SH, Zhao JP. Clinical practice guideline for acupuncture and moxibustion: Female urinary incontinence. J Integr Med. 2024; 22(3): 258-269.

Abdominal obesity as assessed by anthropometric measures associates with urinary incontinence in females: findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2018

BACKGROUND

Urinary incontinence (UI) is significantly link to abdominal obesity. This study aimed to assess the association between anthropometric indices of abdominal obesity, including body roundness index (BRI), conicity index (CI), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and UI risk in adult females.

METHODS

We analyzed data from 10, 317 adult females in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database (2005-2018). Weighted multivariable-adjusted regression analysis was conducted to determine the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between BRI, CI, WHtR, and UI. Stratified analyses revealed the association based on the population type. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analyses were used to assess the predictive value of UI.

RESULTS

All indices of abdominal obesity investigated were positively and independently associated with the prevalence and severity of three types of UI. After adjusting for all relevant confounding variables, a significantly positive association between BRI and the prevalence of UI were observed (OR quartile 4 vs. quartile 1: urge UI (UUI): 1.93, 95% CI 1.61-2.30; stress UI (SUI): 2.29, 95% CI 1.94-2.70; mixed UI (MUI): 2.26, 95% CI 1.82-2.82; all P < 0.0001, P for trend < 0.0001, respectively), as well as WHtR and CI, which particularly prominent for female in premenopausal. Moreover, a one-unit increment of BRI was significantly associated with an increased severity index of UUI (β: 0.06, 95% CI 0.04-0.09, P < 0.0001), SUI (β: 0.10, 95% CI 0.07-0.13, P < 0.0001) and MUI (β: 0.07, 95% CI 0.04-0.10, P < 0.0001), which this trend was also observed in each subtype of UI for WHtR and CI. Furthermore, the ROC analysis demonstrated a higher diagnostic efficacy of BRI and WHtR compared with BMI in discriminating UI with an AUC of 0.600 for SUI, 0.617 for UUI, and 0.622 for MUI (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

An increased BRI, CI, and WHtR are significantly associated with higher prevalence and severity of UI in females.

Urinary Incontinence in Primary Care-The Gap Between Recommendations and Real World

IMPORTANCE

Routine screening for urinary incontinence (UI) by primary care providers (PCPs) is recommended.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to describe the rate of incident UI diagnosed at annual PCP visits, the prevalence of UI in a large primary care population, and estimate the rate of screening for UI during primary care preventive and annual wellness visits. Secondary aims were to describe PCP knowledge and behavior as they relate to UI screening and diagnosis.

STUDY DESIGN

The electronic health record was used to abstract the number of adult female patients seen by PCPs within a regional health system with a diagnosis of UI before our study period and with a new diagnosis over a 2-year period. Additional new diagnoses and screening practices were found on chart review of an additional 824 representative charts. Primary care providers within the health system were surveyed about their screening practices and knowledge about UI.

RESULTS

There were 192,053 women primary care patients seen over 2 years. A total of 5.7% had a UI diagnosis preceding the study period and 3.4% had a UI diagnosis during the study period. A total of 42% of PCPs reported that they screen for UI at least half the time and none were completely satisfied with their ability to screen for UI. Sixteen percent of annual wellness visits had any documentation of screening for UI.

CONCLUSION

In a large primary care population, screening for and detection of UI in women was low.

The brain, gut, and bladder health nexus: A conceptual model linking stress and mental health disorders to overactive bladder in women

OBJECTIVE

A small, but growing literature links stressors and mental health disorders (MHDs) across the life course to overactive bladder (OAB) and urinary incontinence symptoms. Mechanisms by which stressors and MHDs may impact bladder health are not fully understood, limiting novel prevention and treatment efforts. Moreover, potential biopsychosocial mechanisms involving the brain and gut have not been considered in an integrated, comprehensive fashion.

METHODS

Members of the prevention of lower urinary tract symptoms Research Consortium developed conceptual models to inform research on biopsychosocial mechanisms through which stress and MDHs may impact bladder health among girls and women, focusing on brain and gut physiology.

RESULTS

Two conceptual models were developed-one to explain central (brain-based) and peripheral (gut-based) mechanisms linking stressors and MHDs to OAB and bladder health, and one to highlight bidirectional communication between the brain, gut, and bladder. Traumatic events, chronic stressors, and MHDs may lead to a maladaptive stress response, including dysregulated communication and signaling between the brain, gut, and bladder. Gut bacteria produce molecules and metabolites that alter production of neurotransmitters, amino acids, short-chain fatty acids, and inflammatory immune response molecules that mediate communication between the gut and brain. Microbiota signal neurogenesis, microglia maturation, and synaptic pruning; they also calibrate brain-gut-bladder axis communication through neurotransmission and synaptogenesis, potentially influencing bladder symptom development. Life course trajectories of risk may be prevented or interrupted by central and peripheral resources for neuropsychological resilience.

CONCLUSIONS

Depicted pathways, including brain-gut-bladder communication, have implications for research and development of novel prevention and treatment approaches.

U-shaped association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations and urinary leakage among adult females aged 45 years and over in the United States: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

The relationship between serum vitamin D status and urinary leakage (UL) among middle-aged females needs to be further studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations with UL among American females ages 45 years and over.

METHODS

Seven cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) with self-report UL data, were used. A total of 9525 women aged 45 years and older were enrolled in this study. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models and the smooth curve fitting were utilized to analyze the association between clinical UL and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations.

RESULTS

A non-linear relationship between serum 25(OH)D concentrations and clinical ULwas observed. When serum 25(OH)D concentration was higher than the inflection point 63.5 nmol/L, a positive correlation was observed between serum 25(OH)D concentrations and clinical UL ([OR]: 1.007, 95%CI: 1.005-1.009, P < 0.01). However, when serum 25(OH)D concentration was below the inflection point 63.5 nmol/L, a negative correlation was observed between serum 25(OH)D concentrations and clinical UL ([OR]: 0.993, 95%CI: 0.989-0.996, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The association between serum vitamin D and the risk of UL exhibited a U-shaped pattern among US middle-aged females, with an inflection point occurring at a serum 25(OH)D concentration of 63.5 nmol/L.

Psychosocial Factors Associated with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms One Year Postpartum

Pregnancy carries substantial risk for developing lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTSs), with potential lifelong impacts on bladder health. Little is known about modifiable psychosocial factors that may influence the risk of postpartum LUTSs. We examined associations between depressive symptoms, perceived stress, and postpartum LUTSs, and the moderating effects of perceived social support, using data from a cohort study of Expect With Me group prenatal care (n = 462). One year postpartum, 40.3% participants reported one or more LUTS. The most frequent LUTS was daytime frequency (22.3%), followed by urinary incontinence (19.5%), urgency (18.0%), nocturia (15.6%), and bladder pain (6.9%). Higher odds of any LUTS were associated with greater depressive symptoms (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.08, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04-1.11) and perceived stress (AOR 1.12, 95% CI 1.04-1.19). Higher perceived social support was associated with lower odds of any LUTS (AOR 0.94, 95% CI 0.88-0.99). Perceived social support mitigated the adverse effects of depressive symptoms (interaction AOR 0.99, 95% CI 0.98-0.99) and perceived stress (interaction AOR 0.97, 95% CI 0.95-0.99) on experiencing any LUTS. Greater depressive symptoms and perceived stress may increase the likelihood of experiencing LUTSs after childbirth. Efforts to promote bladder health among postpartum patients should consider psychological factors and social support.

Methodologies Used in Studies of Self-Management Interventions for Urinary Incontinence in Adult Women: An Integrative Review

BACKGROUND

Urinary incontinence (UI) affects approximately 60% of women in the United States and negatively impacts self-esteem, sexual function, participation in social activities, and quality of life (QOL). Self-management interventions show promise for improving UI symptoms and QOL. Previous reviews of UI self-management studies have focused on outcomes for older women. However, the literature lacks a synthesis of methodologies of these studies.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this integrative review was to synthesize and evaluate methodologies used in studies of self-management interventions for UI in adult women.

METHODS

Using an integrative review approach, a search of PubMed, CINAHL, and Embase was conducted yielding 1404 results, 23 of which met inclusion criteria. Data abstracted from each article included author(s), year of publication, study design and purpose, sample, country and setting, measures of UI symptoms, and intervention description.

RESULTS

Findings showed methodological differences, particularly in design, assessment of UI subtypes, measures of UI symptoms, and intervention components. Multicomponent self-management interventions were used in 18 studies and 1 component used in 5 studies. Education, pelvic floor muscle exercises, and bladder training were the intervention components most frequently used, either alone or in combination; however, intervention components were not consistently aligned with the UI subtypes. Analysis of ethical matters revealed areas for improvement, specifically in reporting privacy and confidentiality and in methods to obtain informed consent.

CONCLUSIONS

Results highlight opportunities to improve the rigor of methodologies used in studies of self-management interventions for UI in adult women.

"The constant worry": Urinary incontinence self-management in rural women: A qualitative study

Urinary incontinence (UI) is experienced by approximately 60% of women in the United States and has a negative impact on self-esteem, sexual function, social participation, and quality of life. Rural women, who are underrepresented in the UI literature, face many health disparities and unique barriers to accessing care. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore UI self-management behaviors in rural women with UI, including the contextual factors that influence their approach to self-management. This study recruited rural women, ages 30-60 years, using purposive sampling via social media. Demographic information was collected. A semi-structured interview guide was used to conduct individual, in-depth interviews via Zoom. Interview data were analyzed using qualitative description. Sections of interview text were coded using a priori and emergent codes, grouped into categories, and distilled into themes. A total of 31 participants (mean age = 47.2 years) met inclusion/exclusion criteria, enrolled, and completed the study. Qualitative analysis revealed rural as a cross-cutting theme and five major themes: self-management behaviors, familial influence, medical encounters, talking about UI, and resource scarcity. Participants described the rural environment as having a substantial impact on their approach to UI self-management. Specifically, rural social enmeshment made seeking care for UI in rural communities challenging. Findings shed light on how the rural environment influences various aspects of UI self-management in midlife women. Diverse perspectives in UI self-management are needed to advance knowledge in this field.

Advances in the natural history of urinary incontinence in adult females

The aim of this review is to summarise the related characteristics of the natural history of female urinary incontinence (UI) using a narrative descriptive approach. PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science were searched for articles published from 1 January 2010 to 1 January 2020 on the natural history of female UI, which including incidence, persistence, progression, remission, and regression of a single subtype of UI and the mutual influence of different UI subtypes. This literature review includes 15 articles published, indicates that UI is highly dynamic, with symptoms varying according to disease severity and subtype and influenced by multiple factors at different disease stages. Recent studies have increased our understanding of the natural history of UI. Future research should systematically analyse the progression of each subtype of UI and interactions between subtypes to prevent the progression of UI across females life course.

Trajectories of depressive symptoms over 20 years and subsequent lower urinary tract symptoms and impact among women

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study is to examine the association between depressive symptoms and subsequent lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and impact (a composite outcome) among women (N = 1,119) from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study.

METHODS

The Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) was administered in 1990-1991 and every 5 years through 2010-2011. In 2012-2013, LUTS and impact data were collected for the first time. Accumulation of risk was examined in the following three ways: (1) mean CES-D score across 20 years (5 observations); (2) depressive symptom trajectory group, determined by group-based trajectory modeling; and (3) intercepts and slopes obtained from women's individual CES-D score trajectories through two-stage mixed effects modeling. For each approach, ordinal logistic regression analyses examined odds of having "greater LUTS/impact" for each unit change in a depressive symptom variable.

RESULTS

(1) With each one-unit increase in mean CES-D score over the 20-year period, women were 9% more likely to report greater LUTS/impact (odds ratio [OR] = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.07-1.11). (2) In comparison with women with consistently low depressive symptoms, women with consistently threshold depression or consistently high depressive symptoms were twice (OR = 2.07, 95% CI = 1.59-2.69) and over five times (OR = 5.55, 95% CI = 3.07-10.06) as likely, respectively, to report greater LUTS/impact. (3) Women's individual symptom intercept and slope interacted. Increases in depressive symptoms across 20 years (greater slopes) were associated with greater LUTS/impact when women's initial CES-D score (intercept) was in the moderate-to-high range relative to the sample.

CONCLUSIONS

Depressive symptoms over 20 years, examined with different degrees of nuance, were consistently associated with subsequently measured LUTS and impact.

Effect of a Mobile App-Based Urinary Incontinence Self-Management Intervention Among Pregnant Women in China: Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Urinary incontinence (UI) is a highly prevalent health concern commonly observed during and after pregnancy that can substantially impact women's physical and psychological well-being and quality of life. Owing to its numerous advantages, mobile health may be a promising solution; however, it is unclear whether the app-based intervention can effectively improve UI symptoms during and after pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Urinary Incontinence for Women (UIW) app-based intervention for UI symptom improvement among pregnant women in China.

METHODS

Singleton pregnant women without incontinence before pregnancy who were aged ≥18 years and between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation were recruited from a tertiary public hospital in China and were randomly allocated (1:1) to either an experimental group (n=63) or a control group (n=63). The experimental group received the UIW app intervention and oral pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) instructions, whereas the control group received oral PFMT instructions alone. Neither the participants nor the researchers were blinded to the intervention. The primary outcome was UI severity. The secondary outcomes included quality of life, self-efficacy with PFMT, and knowledge of UI. All data were collected at baseline, 2 months after randomization, and 6 weeks post partum through electronic questionnaires or by checking the electronic medical record system. Data analysis followed the intention-to-treat principle. A linear mixed model was used to examine the intervention effect on primary and secondary outcomes.

RESULTS

Participants in the experimental and control groups were comparable at baseline. Of the 126 overall participants, 117 (92.9%) and 103 (81.7%) women completed follow-up visits at 2 months after randomization and 6 weeks after delivery, respectively. A statistically significant difference in UI symptom severity was observed between the experimental group and control group (2 months after randomization: mean difference -2.86, 95% CI -4.09 to -1.64, P<.001; 6 weeks post partum: mean difference -2.68, 95% CI -3.87 to -1.49, P<.001). For the secondary outcomes, a statistically significant intervention effect on the quality of life, self-efficacy, and UI knowledge was found at the 2-month follow-up (all P<.05) and 6 weeks post partum (all P<.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The app-based UI self-management intervention (UIW) effectively improved UI symptom severity, quality of life, self-efficacy with PFMT, and knowledge of UI during the late pregnancy and early postnatal periods. Larger multicenter studies with a longer postpartum follow-up are required to further extend these findings.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1800016171; http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=27455.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

RR2-10.2196/22771.

Urinary Symptoms and their Impact on Young Women's Sexual Function and Quality of Life

Sexuality and urinary function have received scarce research attention in younger women. In this cross-sectional survey study, prevalence, type, severity, and impact of urinary incontinence (UI), and its relationship with sexuality was investigated in 261 nulliparous women aged 18-27 (M = 19.08 years). Modules of the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire and the Female Sexual Function Index assessed UI, sexual function, and quality of life. Thirty percent of the sample experienced UI, and 26% reported sexual function problems. A significant small negative correlation was found between UI and sexual lubrication (p = .017). Forty-three percent of participants in the total sample reported that they were bothered by urinary symptoms, and 13% avoided sexual activity due to urinary symptoms. Of those classified as incontinent, 90% were bothered by their symptoms. Urinary symptoms are impactful on the quality of life and sexual lives of young women, but despite their high prevalence, they remain a largely understudied and undertreated issue in this age group. Further research is crucial for improving awareness and access to treatment for this underserved population.

Association between body mass index, trunk and total body fat percentage with urinary incontinence in adult US population

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

To assess the association of body mass index (BMI), trunk and total body fat percentage with the prevalence and severity of urinary incontinence (UI) stratified by gender among a US adult population.

METHODS

A representative cross-sectional survey of participants aged ≥ 20 years was conducted using the data from the 2011-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Multivariate logistic and linear regression models were used to explore the association among the three obesity measures above with the prevalence and severity of UI.

RESULTS

A total of 6964 individuals (4168 males and 2796 females) enrolled for the final analysis. Among males, the weighted prevalence of UI was 7.8%, with 1.3% stress urinary incontinence, 5.8% urge urinary incontinence and 0.7% mixed urinary incontinence. For females, the weighted prevalence of UI was 54.2%, with 31.9% stress urinary incontinence, 7.0% urge urinary incontinence and 15.6% mixed urinary incontinence. Multivariate logistic regression revealed increased BMI and trunk fat percentage significantly increased odds of UI (BMI: OR = 1.05 [per 1 kg/m²], 95% CI: 1.03-1.07, P < 0.001; trunk fat percentage: OR = 1.15 [per 5% increase in trunk fat percentage], 95% CI: 1.06-1.25, P = 0.002) in females. Similar trends were observed in the severity of UI (BMI: β = 0.07, 95% CI: 0.05-0.09, P < 0.001; trunk fat percentage: β = 0.18, 95% CI: 0.10-0.26, P < 0.001) by a multivariate linear regression. In males, no significant association was observed (BMI: OR = 0.99 [per 1 kg/m²], 95% CI: 0.97-1.02, P = 0.663; trunk fat percentage: OR = 0.95 [per 5% increase in trunk fat percentage], 95% CI: 0.84-1.08, P = 0.430; total fat percentage: OR = 0.94 [per 5% increase in total fat percentage], 95% CI: 0.80-1.10, P = 0.424).

CONCLUSIONS

An increased BMI and trunk fat percentage are significantly associated with higher prevalence and severity of UI in females.

The risk factors for urinary incontinence in female adults with chronic cough

Background

Female patients with chronic cough are more likely to suffer from urinary incontinence (UI). However, there are few data in regard of risks related with UI in female adults with chronic cough.

Method

We recruited female adult patients with chronic cough from the cough specialist clinic. Demographic information and clinical characteristics including age, BMI, duration of cough, severity of cough, nature and timing of cough, cough triggers, concomitant symptoms, comorbidities and UI condition were collected. The demographics and clinical features of patients with UI and those without UI were compared.

Result

A total of 700 female patients with the main symptom of chronic cough were included, of whom 351 (50.1%) presented with UI. As compared with patients without UI, patients with UI showed a longer mean age (years) (49.5 vs. 42.4, p < 0.001), a more severe cough symptom (median of cough Visual Analogue Scale: 65 vs. 50, p < 0.001), a higher prevalence of chronic sinusitis (17.6% vs. 8.6%, p = 0.002), and combined with a higher incidence of abdominal muscle pain due to cough (39.6% vs. 18.7%, p < 0.001).In addition, patients in UI group whose cough were more easily triggered by exercise (28.2% vs. 17.2%, p = 0.048). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated the above five variables were risk factors for UI in female adult patients with chronic cough.

Conclusion

Urinary incontinence is a common complication in female patients with chronic cough. Older age, severe cough, combing with a higher proportion of chronic sinusitis and abdominal muscle pain, a cough easily triggered by exercise are identified as risk factors for urinary incontinence. We should pay more attention to female chronic coughers with these risk factors in clinics.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12890-022-02069-w.

Assessment of the Effectiveness of the Sonofeedback Method in the Treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence in Women-Preliminary Report

Urinary incontinence is a common problem that affects postmenopausal women. This ailment has a negative impact on many aspects of life, significantly limiting everyday functioning related to professional work, physical activity or the intimate sphere. The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of the sonofeedback method in reducing the severity of urinary incontinence in postmenopausal women with a urinary incontinence problem. A total of 60 patients aged 45–65 with stress urinary incontinence, confirmed by a gynecologist, were qualified for the study. All persons qualified for the study were randomly assigned to study group A (n = 20), comparative B (n = 20) and control C (n = 20). Patients from group A were treated with sonofeedback of the pelvic floor muscles. In group B, the combined electrostimulation method was used with biofeedback training. Group C was a control group in which only the measured parameters were measured at the same time interval as those carried out in groups A and B. In all patients, three times: before the therapy, after the fifth procedure and after the end of the therapy, the incidence and severity of stress urinary incontinence were assessed—Gaudenz questionnaire and the intensity of urinary incontinence—a modified 1 h pad test. The obtained results have an application value giving the possibility of using effective therapy with sonofeedback in women in whom the recommended electrostimulation method cannot be used due to health and behavioral reasons.

2021 opinion from the CUROPF on THE efficacy and safety of mid-urethral slings used in women WITH urinary stress incontinence

OBJECTIVE

To determine the usefulness of mid-urethral slings (MUS) in the surgical management of women presenting with urinary stress incontinence (USI) METHOD: A consensus committee of multidisciplinary experts (CUROPF) was convened and focused on PICO questions concerning the efficacy and safety of MUS surgery compared to other procedures and concerning which approach (retropubic (RP) vs transobturator (TO)) should be proposed as a first-line MUS surgery for specific subpopulations (obese; intrinsic sphincteric deficiency (ISD); elderly) RESULTS: As compared to other procedures (urethral bulking agents, traditional slings and open colposuspension), the MUS procedure should be proposed as the first-line surgical therapy (strong agreement). MUS surgery can be associated with complications and proper pre-operative informed consent is mandatory (strong agreement). Mini-slings (SIS/SIMS) should only be proposed in clinical trials (strong agreement). Both RP and TO approaches may be proposed for the insertion of MUS (strong agreement). However, if the woman is willing to accept a moderate increase in per-operative risk, the RP approach should be preferred (strong agreement) since it is associated with higher very long-term cure rates and as it is possible to completely remove the sling surgically if a severe complication occurs. The RP approach should be used for the insertion of MUS in a woman presenting with ISD (strong agreement). Either the RP or TO approach should be used for the insertion of MUS in an obese woman presenting with USI (strong agreement). In very obese women (BMI ≥35-40kg/m²), weight loss should be preferred prior to MUS surgery and bariatric surgery should be discussed (strong agreement) CONCLUSION: The current Opinion provides an appropriate strategy for both the selection of patients and the best therapeutic approach in women presenting with USI.

Incidence and risk factors of female urinary incontinence: a 4-year longitudinal study among 24 985 adult women in China

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the incidence of urinary incontinence (UI), including its subtypes stress UI (SUI), urgency UI (UUI) and mixed UI (MUI), and to examine risk factors for de novo SUI and UUI in Chinese women.

DESIGN

Nationwide longitudinal study.

SETTING

Six geographic regions of China.

PARTICIPANTS

Women aged ≥20 years old were included using a multistage, stratified, cluster sampling method.

METHODS

This study was conducted between May 2014 and March 2016, with follow up in 2018. Data on demographics, medical history, lifestyle and physiological and anthropometric information were collected.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

Incidence, rate ratio (RR).

RESULTS

Analyses included 24 985 women (mean age 41.9 years).The follow-up response rate was 55.5%, median follow-up time was 3.7 years. The standardised incidences of UI, SUI, UUI and MUI were 21.2, 13.1, 3.0 and 5.1 per 1000 person-years, respectively. Risk factors for de novo SUI included delivery pattern (vaginal spontaneous delivery RR 2.12, 95% CI 1.62-2.78 and instrumental delivery RR 3.30, 95% CI 1.99-5.45), high body mass index (BMI) (overweight RR 1.52, 95% CI 1.33-1.74 and obesity RR 1.67, 95% CI 1.32-2.11), cigarette smoking (RR 1.54, 95% CI 1.12-2.12), chronic cough (RR 1.44, 95% CI 1.17-1.76), diabetes (RR 1.33, 95% CI 1.10-1.60) and older age (50-59 years RR 1.49, 95% CI 1.16-1.90 and 60-69 years RR 1.61, 95% CI 1.22-2.13).The risk factors significantly associated with de novo UUI were age (RR increased from 1.21, 95% CI 0.74-1.99, at 30-39 years to 6.3, 95% CI 3.85-10.30, at >70 years) and diabetes (RR 1.48, 95% CI 1.05-2.09).

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of female UI is 21.2 per 1000 person-years in China. Delivery (vaginal spontaneous delivery, instrumental delivery), high BMI, cigarette smoking, chronic cough, diabetes and older age were risk factors.

TWEETABLE ABSTRACT

The incidence of female urinary incontinence was 21.2 per 1000 person-years in China. Delivery, BMI, diabetes and old age are risk factors.

Psychiatric History and Overactive Bladder Symptom Severity in Ambulatory Urogynecological Patients

Introduction and hypothesis: A link between psychiatric comorbidities and overactive bladder symptomatology has been suggested by preclinical and clinical studies. Given this, we hypothesized that a psychiatric history and current treatment with psychotropic medications could be related to the severity of overactive bladder and incontinence symptoms in patients referred to a tertiary care urogynecological center. Methods: One hundred and twenty-seven female patients diagnosed with an overactive bladder were screened for a lifetime history of psychiatric disorders and the type and number of psychotropic medications currently taken. The overall severity of overactive bladder symptoms was assessed using the Indevus Urgency Severity Scale. The severity and impact of urinary incontinence on the quality of life were quantified with the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form. Urinary incontinence was further quantified with the aid of the Urinary Distress Inventory-6. The patients were screened for stress urinary incontinence using the Stamey Incontinence Score. Results: A psychiatric history, as well as current use of at least two psychotropic medications, was associated with increased severity of overactive bladder symptoms. A history of depression and current treatment with any selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor was associated with increased severity of stress urinary incontinence symptoms. Current treatment with other psychotropic medications, including sedative-hypnotics and drugs with anticholinergic properties was not related to the severity of overactive bladder and incontinence symptoms.

Risk factors of postpartum stress urinary incontinence in primiparas: What should we care

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a common clinical postpartum complication. It is necessary to explore the risk factors of postpartum SUI in primiparas to provide evidence support for preventing and reducing the occurrence of SUI.Primiparas who were delivered in our hospital from March 2019 to October 2020 were identified, the personal information and related treatment details of SUI and no-SUI primiparas were collected and analyzed. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify the risk factors of postpartum SUI in primiparas.A total of 612 primiparas were included, the incidence of SUI in primiparas was 32.03%. There were significant differences in the body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy, diabetes, abortion, delivery method, newborn's weight, epidural anesthesia, and duration of second stage of labor (all P < .05) between SUI and no-SUI group, and there were no significant differences in the age, BMI at admission, hypertension and hyperlipidemia SUI and no-SUI group (all P > .05). Logistic regression analyses indicated that BMI before pregnancy ≥24 kg/m2 (odds ratio [OR]: 2.109, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.042-4.394), diabetes (OR: 2.250, 95% CI: 1.891-3.544), abortion history (OR: 3.909, 95% CI: 1.187-5.739), vaginal delivery (OR: 2.262, 95% CI: 1.042-4.011), newborn's weight ≥3 kg (OR: 1.613, 95% CI: 1.095-2.316), epidural anesthesia (OR: 2.015, 95% CI: 1.226-3.372), and duration of second stage of labor ≥90 minutes (OR: 1.726, 95% CI: 1.084-2.147) were the risk factors of postpartum SUI in primiparas (all P < .05).The clinical incidence of SUI in primiparas is relatively high. In clinical practice, medical staff should conduct individualized early screening for those risk factors, and take prevention measures to reduce the occurrence of SUI.

BMMSC-sEV-derived miR-328a-3p promotes ECM remodeling of damaged urethral sphincters via the Sirt7/TGFβ signaling pathway

Background

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a common and bothersome condition. Invasive surgery will always be considered after conservative treatment fails, but the rates of postoperative complications and long-term recurrence are high. Thus, a new treatment strategy is still needed. In recent years, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSC) have shown great promise for SUI treatment. The therapeutic effects of BMMSC on SUI are achieved mainly by paracrine pathway signaling molecules, such as small extracellular vesicles (sEV). sEV are recognized as essential mediators of cell-to-cell communication. However, the therapeutic effects and detailed mechanisms of BMMSC-derived sEV in SUI remain mostly unexplored.

Methods

The effects of BMMSC-sEV on extracellular matrix (ECM) metabolism were assessed in vitro and in vivo. In a SUI rat model, TGF-β1 signaling was examined with or without BMMSC-sEV stimulation. sEV miRNAs were deeply sequenced, and the most likely miRNAs were evaluated as mediators of the TGF-β1 signaling pathway.

Results

BMMSC-sEV enhanced the synthesis of ECM components, including elastin, collagen I, and collagen III, and improved urethral function. Furthermore, BMMSC-sEV activated TGF-β1 signaling in primary fibroblast cells and in rat urethras. Several differentially expressed miRNAs were identified in the BMMSC-sEV. Bioinformatics analysis and in vitro studies showed that BMMSC-sEV miR-328a-3p can be transferred from BMMSC to fibroblasts and can regulate the Sirt7/TGF-β1 signaling pathway.

Conclusion

BMMSC-sEV promote ECM remodeling of damaged urethral sphincters by transferring miR-328a-3p to regulate the Sirt7/TGF-β1 signaling pathway.