Prevalence of detrusor underactivity and bladder outlet obstruction in women with cystocele and changes in voiding function after cystocele repair

Underactive bladder as defined by the International Continence Society in the 2023 Japan Community Health Survey

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the characteristics of underactive bladder (UAB) in participants of the 2023 Japan Community Health Survey (JaCS 2023).

METHODS

The JaCS 2023 was conducted among individuals aged 20-99 years old who had anonymously registered with a Japanese online research company. We divided the 6210 participants of JACS 2023 into UAB and non-UAB groups as defined by the International Continence Society Working Group (ICS-WG) and evaluated the prevalence of UAB as well as concomitant lower urinary tract symptoms. In addition, an association between UAB and vulnerability-related factors, namely participants' characteristics including frailty and comorbidities, was explored by univariable and multivariable analyses.

RESULTS

The prevalence of UAB in Japanese community-dwelling men and women aged 20 years or older was 9.3% and 4.0% overall (p < 0.0001), respectively, and when excluding benign prostatic hyperplasia or pelvic organ prolapse, 7.0% and 3.7%, respectively, (p < 0.0001). A significant increase in the prevalence of UAB with age was observed (p < 0.0001). In addition, storage symptoms including overactive bladder were more frequent in the UAB group than the non-UAB group (p < 0.0001). Frailty and several comorbidities were independently associated with UAB.

CONCLUSIONS

According to the definition proposed by the ICS-WG, the JaCS 2023 demonstrated that UAB was more prevalent in men than in women and increased in prevalence with age. Storage symptoms including overactive bladder sometimes coexisted with UAB. Vulnerability-related factors were associated with UAB.

Age-specific prevalence, clinical and urodynamic findings of detrusor underactivity and bladder outlet obstruction in female voiding dysfunction

OBJECTIVE

Female voiding dysfunction with cystocele have been widely studied, but there are no data regarding women without cystoceles. The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of detrusor underactivity (DU) and bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) without cystoceles in a large sample size.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study. Between April 1996 and September 2018, 602 neurologically intact women with voiding dysfunction without cystoceles were enrolled. Detrusor pressure (DU) at the maximum flow rate (PdetQmax) <20 cmH2O, maximum flow rate (Qmax) <15 mL/s, and a bladder voiding efficiency <90% and BOO (PdetQmax ≥40 cmH2O and Qmax <12 mL/s) were diagnosed by urodynamic study. Otherwise, a non-DU/BOO diagnosis was made. The prevalence of DU and BOO was the primary outcome. The secondary outcomes were the analyses of the differences between these three groups in objective UDS parameters and subjective questionnaires and bladder diary parameters.

RESULTS

This study included 100 (17%) women with DU, 60 (10%) with BOO, and 442 (73%) with a non-DU/BOO diagnosis. DU increased with age, but BOO decreased as age increased. The women in the DU group were older, had higher parity and pad weights, and lower PdetQmax, maximum urethral closure pressure, and functional profile length than the BOO group. The urodynamic findings did not correlate well to subjective questionnaire parameters. None of the symptoms revealed a significant difference between the groups. The retrospective design was the limitation of the study.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of DU increased with age in women with voiding dysfunction without advanced cystoceles. Conversely, BOO decreased with age. Prevalence intersected in the fourth decade. Diagnosis requires urodynamic evaluation, as subjective symptoms are inconclusive.

The prevalence of overt, occult, and no-demonstrated stress urinary incontinence and their clinical and urodynamic findings in women with advanced-stage cystoceles

OBJECTIVES

To elucidate the prevalence of overt, occult and no demonstrated (ND) stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in women with advanced-stage cystoceles.

STUDY DESIGN

Between November 2011 and January 2017, all women with ≥stage 2 cystoceles were retrospectively enrolled. Overt SUI was diagnosed before the prolapse reduction test, and occult SUI was diagnosed when urine leakage was noted after a reduction test with vaginal gauze. Otherwise, a diagnosis of ND-SUI was made.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The prevalence, clinical and urodynamic findings of overt SUI, occult SUI, and ND-SUI.

RESULTS

In 480 enrolled women, 62% had overt SUI, 17% had occult SUI, and 21% had ND-SUI. The occult SUI group had the most advanced prolapse. The pad weight results after prolapse reduction (37.3 ± 44.3 vs. 13.4 ± 21.9, p < 0.05), the bladder capacity (243 ± 54 vs. 273 ± 48, p < 0.001), and questionnaires regarding life quality were significantly different between the overt SUI and the occult SUI groups. Bladder oversensitivity (BO) was the most common urodynamic diagnosis (389/480, 81%), especially in overt SUI, while urodynamic stress incontinence (56/480, 12%) and detrusor overactivity (60/480, 13%) were uncommon. The cutoff value of stage 3 uterine prolapse was the strongest predictor for predicting occult SUI (sensitivity = 30.3%, specificity = 78.5%; area = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.52-0.68).

CONCLUSION

SUI occurs in a ratio of 3:1:1 among cases with overt, occult, and no demonstrable symptoms. BO is the most common urodynamic diagnosis. Pad test with prolapse reduction remains an important tool, especially for coexistent stage 3 uterine prolapse.

Effect of tibolone versus hormone replacement therapy on lower urinary tract symptoms and sexual function

BACKGROUND

Few studies have compared the effects of tibolone versus hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on lower urinary tract symptoms and female sexual function. The current study aimed to compare these treatments.

METHODS

Women with climacteric symptoms were recruited consecutively and allocated to receive tibolone (2.5 mg) or estradiol valerate (1 mg) and medroxyprogesterone acetate (2.5 mg). Patients were followed up at 4 weeks and 12 weeks after treatment.

RESULTS

Overall, there were no significance of improvement in the International Prostate Symptoms Score (IPSS) scores in the HRT group. However, nocturia and the IPSS storage score improved after tibolone treatment. In addition, orgasm, satisfaction and pain improved after HRT. However, desire, lubrication, and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) total scores improved after tibolone treatment. There was a between-group difference in the change from baseline in the nocturia score after 4 weeks of treatment (0.1 ± 0.9 for HRT vs. -0.4 ± 1.2 for tibolone, p = 0.02). Nonetheless, there were no significant differences of the changes from baseline in the other IPSS and FSFI domains between the tibolone and HRT groups.

CONCLUSION

Despite the limited effect, tibolone seems to have more benefit in nocturia than HRT. In addition, tibolone seems to have benefits on overall low urinary tract storage symptoms; and both tibolone and HRT seem to have beneficial effects on female sexual function, despite there were no significant differences between tibolone and HRT.

Does vaginal surgery for correction of pelvic organ prolapse improve urinary function? A prospective cohort study

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is caused by an imbalance in the stability of the pelvic organs, resulting in loss of support. The most common types of POP, anterior and apical, are associated with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) such as bladder outlet obstruction and detrusor overactivity (DO). Vaginal surgery may improve LUTS and overall urinary symptoms. We assessed urodynamic (UD) parameters and urinary symptoms before and after vaginal surgery for POP correction.

METHODS

A prospective cohort of 59 women with symptomatic anterior and/or apical POP associated with urinary symptoms and with indications for vaginal surgery were included. POP surgeries included anterior colporrhaphy and vaginal hysterectomy with culdoplasty (VH) and with/without concomitant posterior colporrhaphy and mid-urethral sling (MUS). All participants underwent UD evaluation and answered urinary symptom questionnaires pre- and 3 months post-surgery.

RESULTS

Anterior colporrhaphy was performed in all patients: 45.7% with associated VH and 54.2% with concomitant MUS. Preoperative ICIQ-OAB score >8 points was significantly associated with DO (p<0.02) and decreased after surgery (9±4.3 to 3.2±3.0, p<0.001). All other questionnaires demonstrated improvements in urinary symptoms. Stress urinary incontinence rate decreased from 59.6% to 21% (p<0.001). Post-void residual (PVR) volume and Valsalva maneuver also decreased (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Pelvic organ prolapse surgery reduced the prevalence of urgency symptoms, and all questionnaires on urinary symptoms showed clinically significant improvement. Vaginal surgery for POP, even combined with MUS, significantly reduced PVR volume and improved urgency symptoms.

Analysis of the anatomical and biomechanical characteristics of the pelvic floor in cystocele

INTRODUCTION

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) occurs due to disruption of the pelvic floor anatomy; however, the complexity of the pelvic floor support structures and individual patient differences make it difficult to identify the weak points in the pelvic floor support that cause SUI to occur, develop, and recur. This study aimed to analyze the pelvic floor anatomy, structural features, and biomechanics of cystoceles to develop more effective treatment plans with individualized and precise healthcare.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In this observational case-controlled study (clinical trial identifier BOJI201855L), 102 women with normal pelvic floor function and 273 patients diagnosed with cystocele degrees I-III were identified at Shanghai General Hospital from October 2016 to December 2019. We combined ultrasound and vaginal tactile imaging (VTI) to assess the anatomy and biomechanical functions of the anterior and posterior vaginal walls. Both examinations included relaxation and muscle tension tests.

RESULTS

Of the 42 VTI parameters, 13 were associated with the degree of cystocele, six with an increase in the urethral rotation angle (pointing to the mobility of the urethra), and six with a decrease in the retrovesical angle (pointing to hypsokinesis and decrease in bladder position). According to these data, the strength of tissues, especially the muscles in both the anterior and posterior compartments, contributes to the stability of the pelvic floor structure. The strength of the levator ani muscle (LAM) is important for the degree of cystocele, mobility of the urethra, hypsokinesis, and decrease in bladder position.

CONCLUSIONS

In general, the biomechanical status of the pelvic floor in patients with cystocele is complex and involves various muscles, ligaments, tendons, and fascia. Of these, repair and exercise of the LAM have not received much attention in the treatment of patients with cystoceles, which may be an important risk factor for the high recurrence rate.

Clinical outcome and urodynamic changes of tailored transvaginal mesh surgery for pelvic organ prolapse: A mid-term 40 Months follow-up

PURPOSE

To evaluate the changes in clinical outcome and urodynamic parameters after tailored anterior transvaginal mesh (ATVM) surgeries in a mid-term follow-up.

METHODS

Between November 2011 and December 2015, women with ≥stage II pelvic organ prolapse (POP) who underwent ATVM surgeries were retrospectively reviewed. The data-reviewing timeframe was until December 2021. Clinical and urodynamic diagnoses regarding urinary symptoms were evaluated before and after the operation.

RESULTS

A total of 160 women were included. Stress urinary incontinence decreased significantly after the operation (99% (159/160) vs. 43% (68/160), p < 0.01), as well as the pad weight (20.5 ± 2.7 vs. 9.4 ± 2.0, p < 0.001) and diagnosis of urodynamic stress incontinence (83% (132/160) vs. 51% (82/160), p < 0.01). Overactive bladder syndrome increased significantly after the operation (18% (29/160) vs. 28% (45/160), p = 0.03), even though the objective parameters, such as first and strong desire to void, bladder oversensitivity, and detrusor overactivity, were all improved after the operation. The pad weight was mostly improved significantly within the first postoperative 2 years. Eighteen (11%) women had global recurrent POP, and only one (0.6%) woman had true recurrence of cystocele. Twenty-four (15%) women had mesh extrusion, and two-thirds of them could be managed in an office setting.

CONCLUSION

In women with advanced cystocele, the ATVM surgery provides a favorable anatomic reduction outcome with an acceptable mesh extrusion rate. The ATVM provides an anti-incontinence effect, both in subjective symptoms and objective parameters, but this effect might decline after postoperative 2 years.

Feasibility and clinical implications of 3-day bladder diary derived classification of female storage lower urinary tract symptoms

Our aim was to assess the feasibility of a bladder diary (BD) classification as a surrogate for urodynamic studies in women with storage lower urinary tract symptoms. A total of 3823 women who underwent urodynamic studies were reviewed. Nearly the scores of Patient Perception of Bladder Condition, Indevus Urgency Severity Scale and Overactive Bladder Symptom Score decreased gradually from the overactive bladder (OAB) wet-BD, OAB dry-BD, hypersensitive bladder (HSB) -BD, nocturia-BD to normal-BD groups (all p < 0.001). In addition, there is a trend that the rates of bladder oversensitivity decreased gradually from the OAB wet-BD, OAB dry-BD, HSB-BD, nocturia-BD to normal-BD groups (chi-square test, p < 0.001). Moreover, almost the volumes of first desire to void, normal desire to void, strong desire to void, and urgency increased gradually from the OAB wet-BD, OAB dry-BD, HSB-BD, nocturia-BD to normal-BD groups (all p < 0.001). Thus, this BD classification is correlated significantly with symptom severity, the rate of bladder oversensitivity, and bladder capacity. Nonetheless, a combination of urodynamics, clinical history, and BD is still needed for a thorough diagnosis, but that BD provides an efficient diagnosis in a proportion of patients.

Predictors of further anti-incontinence interventions or transvaginal urethrolysis after a pubovaginal sling procedure in women with and without neurologic disorders

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

The impact of neurologic disorders on the clinical outcome of suburethral sling procedures has seldom been studied. Our aim is to elucidate factors predicting further anti-incontinence interventions or transvaginal urethrolysis after a re-adjustable pubovaginal sling procedure (PVS), especially in patients with neurologic disorders.

METHODS

Medical records of all consecutive women who underwent re-adjustable PVS for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) were reviewed.

RESULTS

A total of 589 women were enrolled, 152 (25.8%) women were found to have persistent or recurrent SUI after surgery, and 39 (6.6%) women underwent further anti-incontinence interventions. Postoperative voiding dysfunction was found in 46 (7.8%) women, and 23 women (3.9%) underwent transvaginal urethrolysis. Low body mass index (hazard ratio = 0.92) and low functional bladder capacity (dL, hazard ratio = 0.83) were factors predicting the presence of persistent/recurrent SUI. However, the presence of spinal cord disorder (hazard ratio = 8.91) and a history of prior surgery for pelvic organ prolapse (hazard ratio = 2.51) were factors predicting further anti-incontinence interventions. A high post-void residual volume (PVR, dL, hazard ratio = 1.52) and preoperative bladder outlet obstruction (BOO, hazard ratio = 5.39) were factors predicting postoperative voiding dysfunction. Similarly, a high PVR (dL, hazard ratio = 1.50) and preoperative BOO (hazard ratio = 5.38) were factors predicting transvaginal urethrolysis. A PVR >1.51 dL was an optimal cut-off value for predicting transvaginal urethrolysis.

CONCLUSION

The presence of spinal cord disorder and prior surgery for pelvic organ prolapse were predictors of further anti-incontinence interventions after re-adjustable PVS. In addition, a large PVR and preoperative BOO were predictors of transvaginal urethrolysis after re-adjustable PVS.