Can we predict and manage persistent storage and voiding LUTS following bladder outflow resistance reduction surgery in men? ICI-RS 2023

AIMS

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) persist in up to 50% of patients after bladder outflow resistance reduction surgery (BORRS) in men. Our think tank aims to address the predictive factors for persistent LUTS after BORRS and to propose the recommendations for future research to enable improved better patient counseling and selection by more accurate prediction of treatment outcome.

METHODS

A think tank of ICI-RS gathered in 2023, Bristol, UK, to discuss the pre and postsurgical clinical and urodynamic evaluation of men undergoing BORRS and whether it is possible to predict which men will have persistent LUTS after BORRS.

RESULTS

Our think tank agrees that due to the multifactorial, and still not fully understood, etiology of male LUTS it is not possible to precisely predict in many men who will have persistent LUTS after BORRS. However, severe storage symptoms (overactive bladder, OAB) in association with low volume and high amplitude detrusor overactivity and low bladder capacity in preoperative urodynamics, increase the likelihood of persistent OAB/storage symptoms after BORRS. Furthermore, patients who are clearly obstructed and have good bladder contractility on preoperative pressure flow studies do better postoperatively compared to their counterparts. However, the benefit of pressure flow studies is decreased in patients who do not acceptably void during the study. Poor voiding after BORRS may occur due to persistent obstruction or detrusor underactivity.

CONCLUSION

Future research is needed to increase our understanding of why male LUTS persist after surgery, and to enable better patient selection and more precise patient counseling before BORRS.

How do we make progress in phenotyping patients with lower urinary tract such as overactive bladder and underactive detrusor, including using urine markers and microbiome data, to personalize therapy? ICI-RS 2023-Part 2

INTRODUCTION

Overactive bladder (OAB) and underactive bladder (UAB) could be associated with metabolic syndrome, affective disorders, sex hormone deficiency, changes in urinary microbiota, functional gastrointestinal disorders, or autonomic nervous system dysfunction.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this Think Tank was to provide a guide on how to investigate OAB and/or detrusor underactivity (DU) patients to better clarify the underlying pathophysiology and possibly personalize the treatment.

METHODS

A compendium of discussion based on the current evidence related to phenotyping patients with OAB or DU using urodynamic tests, functional neuro-imaging, urinary markers, and microbiome.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

The article emphasizes the critical significance of adopting a comprehensive yet tailored approach to phenotyping patients with lower urinary tract (LUT) symptoms, such as OAB and UAB. The intricate interplay between the LUT and various factors, metabolic, neurological, psychological, and gastrointestinal can define unique LUT profiles, enabling personalized therapies to replace the one-size-fits-all approach.

How do we make progress in phenotyping patients with LUT such as OAB and underactive detrusor, including using urine markers and microbiome data, in order to personalize therapy? ICI-RS 2023: Part 1

INTRODUCTION

Overactive bladder (OAB) and Underactive bladder (UAB) could be associated with metabolic syndrome, affective disorders, sex hormone deficiency, changes in urinary microbiota, functional gastrointestinal disorders, or autonomic nervous system dysfunction.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this Think Tank was to provide a guide on how to investigate OAB and/or detrusor underactivity (DU) patients to better clarify the underlying pathophysiology and possibly personalize the treatment.

METHODS

A compendium of discussion based on the current evidence related to phenotyping patients with OAB or DU investigating metabolic, neurogical, psychological and gastrointestinal aspects with the aim to personalize the treatment.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

The article emphasizes the critical significance of adopting a comprehensive yet tailored approach to phenotyping patients with lower urinary tract symptoms, such as OAB and UAB. The intricate interplay between the lower urinary tract and various factors, metabolic, neurological, psychological, and gastrointestinal can define unique LUT profiles, enabling personalized therapies to replace the one-size-fits-all approach.

Update on Overactive Bladder Therapeutic Options

BACKGROUND

Millions of Americans are burdened by overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome and the psychogenic and economic hardships that accompany it. Several theories attempt to explain OAB as a neurogenic dysfunction, myogenic dysfunction, urothelial dysfunction, or decreased expression of a channel protein secondary to bladder outlet obstruction. Given that the etiology of OAB is a working theory, the management of OAB is also an evolving subject matter in medicine. There are uncertainties surrounding the pathophysiology of OAB, the strength of a clinical diagnosis, and accurate reporting because of the disease's stigma and decreased use of health care.

DATA SOURCES

This is a narrative review that used PubMed, Google Scholar, Medline, and ScienceDirect to review literature on current and future OAB therapies.

RESULTS

Currently, first-line treatment for OAB is behavioral therapy that uses lifestyle modifications, bladder-control techniques, and psychotherapy. Second-line therapy includes antimuscarinic agents or beta 3 adrenergic agonists, and studies have shown that combination therapy with antimuscarinics and beta 3 adrenergic agonists provides even greater efficacy than monotherapy. Third-line therapies discussed include onabotulinumtoxinA, posterior tibial nerve stimulation, and sacral neuromodulation. OnabotulinumtoxinA has been FDA-approved as a nonpharmaceutical treatment option for refractory OAB with minimal side effects restricted to the urinary tract. Posterior tibial nerve modulation and sacral neuromodulation are successful in treating refractory OAB, but the costs and complication rates make them high-risk procedures. Therefore, surgical intervention should be a last resort. Estrogen therapy is effective in alleviating urinary incontinence in postmenopausal women, consistent with the association between estrogen deficiency and genitourinary syndrome. Potassium channel activators, voltage-gated calcium channel blockers, and phosphodiesterase inhibitors look to be promising options for the future of OAB management. As new therapies are developed, individuals with OAB can better personalize their treatment to maximize their quality of life and cost-effective care.

The AUA/SUFU Guideline on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Idiopathic Overactive Bladder

PURPOSE

The purpose of this guideline is to provide evidence-based guidance to clinicians of all specialties on the evaluation, management, and treatment of idiopathic overactive bladder (OAB). The guideline informs the reader on valid diagnostic processes and provides an approach to selecting treatment options for patients with OAB through the shared decision-making process, which will maximize symptom control and quality of life, while minimizing adverse events and burden of disease.

METHODS

An electronic search employing OVID was used to systematically search the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases, as well as the Cochrane Library, for systematic reviews and primary studies evaluating diagnosis and treatment of OAB from January 2013 to November 2023. Criteria for inclusion and exclusion of studies were based on the Key Questions and the populations, interventions, comparators, outcomes, timing, types of studies and settings (PICOTS) of interest. Following the study selection process, 159 studies were included and were used to inform evidence-based recommendation statements.

RESULTS

This guideline produced 33 statements that cover the evaluation and diagnosis of the patient with symptoms suggestive of OAB; the treatment options for patients with OAB, including non-invasive therapies, pharmacotherapy, minimally invasive therapies, invasive therapies, and indwelling catheters; and the management of patients with BPH and OAB.

CONCLUSION

Once the diagnosis of OAB is made, the clinician and the patient with OAB have a variety of treatment options to choose from and should, through shared decision-making, formulate a personalized treatment approach taking into account evidence-based recommendations as well as patient values and preferences.

Association between body roundness index and overactive bladder: results from the NHANES 2005-2018

BACKGROUND AND AIM

An increasing amount of research has indicated obesity greatly affects individuals with overactive bladder (OAB). However, traditional anthropometric methods present challenges in accurately assessing the likelihood of OAB. Hence, this study's objective was to identify the correlation between the body roundness index (BRI) and OAB.

METHODS

The research included 12,401 individuals who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey spanning 2005-2018. The correlation between BRI and OAB was explored by using weighted multiple logistic regression and weighted restricted cubic spline (RCS). Subgroup analyses showed the associations based on different population types. The study also analyzed the predictive capability of various anthropometric indices, including BRI, body mass index, waist circumference, and weight, in assessing the likelihood of OAB through Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

RESULTS

An independent positive correlation between OAB and BRI was identified after adjusting for potential confounders in weighted multivariate logistic models[odds ratio (OR) = 1.15, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.12-1.17]. Weighted RCS analysis found a positive dose-response correlation between OAB and BRI. The effect size of BRI on OAB remained stable across all prespecified subgroups (all P for interactions > 0.05). In ROC analysis, BRI showed better discriminatory ability for OAB compared with other anthropometric measures for both genders (all P < 0.01). The best BRI cutoff for predicting OAB was lower for men (5.151) than for women (5.383), suggesting that men were more susceptible to changes in BRI than women.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that a raised BRI is correlated with a higher likelihood of OAB. Due to the effectiveness and non-invasiveness of BRI in predicting OAB, it is expected to become the preferred method for early detection and management strategies.

Association between frailty and detrusor overactivity with detrusor underactivity in older women

PURPOSE

While detrusor overactivity (DO) with detrusor underactivity (DU) (DO-DU) has been described as typical of aging, the pathogenesis of DO-DU is highly multifactorial, and often thought to involve medical conditions beyond the urinary tract. We aimed to explore potential associations between idiopathic DO-DU and frailty in older women after accounting for age.

METHODS

The design of the study is a cross-sectional single-center study, in an outpatient urodynamic unit specializing in geriatrics. Participants are consecutive female patients aged ≥65 years without contributory neurological conditions or bladder outlet obstruction who completed a comprehensive geriatric assessment followed by urodynamic evaluation from 2015 to 2019. Participants were categorized as having DO, DU, combined DO-DU, or a negative study. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between urodynamic outcomes and frailty, as quantified using the Frailty index (FI).

RESULTS

Ninety-five patients were included (median age 78 [interquartile range: 70-83] years), among whom 29% had combined DO-DU. The median FI score was 0.27 (0.2-0.32) (5-12). A higher FI was associated with significantly greater age-adjusted odds of DO-DU when either DU or subjects with a negative urodynamic assessment were used as the reference group. Age was not significantly associated with DO-DU across all multivariable analyses.

CONCLUSION

A higher FI was associated with an increased likelihood of DO-DU, which could not be attributed to the effect of age alone. The pathogenesis of DO-DU is likely more complex than chronological aging in and of itself and merits further study.

Duration of detrusor overactivity as an independent predictive factor of upper urinary tract deterioration in patients with traumatic spinal cord injury: results of a retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether duration of detrusor overactivity (DO) during a cystometric study is an independent predictive factor of upper urinary tract deterioration (UUTD) in patients with traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI).

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

A rehabilitation facility in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

METHODS

Data were obtained from medical records of patients who underwent cystometric evaluation at 6-12 months after TSCI. The independent predictor of interest is the duration of DO, which was evaluated by the DO/cystometry ratio (DOratio). Other conventional urodynamic parameters (maximum detrusor pressure, cystometric capacity, bladder compliance, and detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia) and clinical parameters (age, sex, level and severity of injury, comorbidities, bladder emptying method, and history of urinary tract infection) were determined. The outcome was UUTD, which is indicated by chronic kidney disease (GFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2), hydronephrosis, and/or vesicoureteral reflux. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was used to determine the independent associations between DOratio and UUTD by adjusting with all other parameters.

RESULTS

Medical records of 194 patients with TSCI were included in the study. During a combined total of 1260 follow-up years of those patients, 34 UUTD events were identified, indicating an incidence rate of 27.0 cases per 1000 person-years. After adjusting for all other parameters, a high DOratio (≥0.33) was significantly associated with UUTD (hazard ratio = 3.00 [95% CI: 1.12-7.99], p = 0.025).

CONCLUSION

DOratio may be an independent cystometric predictor of UUTD in patients with TSCI. However, further prospective study is needed prior to applying DOratio as a predictor of UUTD in clinical settings.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

There was no clinical trial registration since this study is not a clinical trial.

Exploring lifelong overactive bladder: Transitions, evidence, and clinical implications; A modified Delphi process

INTRODUCTION

Overactive bladder (OAB) is a prevalent urological condition characterized by urinary urgency, with or without urgency urinary incontinence, accompanied by increased daytime frequency and nocturia. However, the current definition of OAB lacks a specified time frame, hindering our understanding of the temporal aspects and transitions that occur within the OAB spectrum.

METHODS

A modified Delphi study was conducted in three rounds, involving a panel of international experts in functional urology, urogynaecology, geriatrics, transitional medicine, and pediatric urology. The study took place between February 2023 and June 2023 and employed two sequential rounds of online surveys, followed by a final hybrid group discussion session in June 2023.

RESULTS

The Delphi process resulted in a consensus definition of lifelong OAB as a persistent and continuous condition that may manifest differently from birth and evolve over time, with varying levels of clinical perception. The course of its progression is influenced by transition periods and modifying factors, mainly anatomical, hormonal, and psychosocial/stressors. Three main transition periods were identified: achievement of daytime continence, adulthood to elderly, and transition to frail elderly. The panel also considered the therapeutic and diagnostic implications of lifelong OAB, as well as future research prospects in terms of importance and feasibility.

CONCLUSIONS

Future longitudinal research is needed to develop this concept and further identify transitions and temporal dynamics.

Role of urine glycosaminoglycan levels in the diagnosis and follow-up in men with lower urinary tract symptoms

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate whether urinary glycosaminoglycans (GAG) levels reflect clinical status in men with lower urinary tract symptoms and if they could be used as a marker in management of overactive bladder (OAB).

METHODS

A total of 34 patients were recruited who were admitted with LUTS and diagnosed as having clinically bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) due to prostate enlargement. These newly diagnosed, never treated patients underwent routine investigation, consisting of history, physical examination, PSA, ultrasound, uroflowmetry, assessment of symptoms scored by both International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and Marmara- Overactive Bladder Questionnaire (M-OBQ). The patients were divided into two groups as those with an initial M-OBQ score < 12 (group 1) and ≥ 13 (group 2). Alfa blocker was initiated in eligible patients. Further evaluations included prostate volume measurement, pre- and post-treatment urinary GAG levels, IPSS and M-QAOB values and maximum urine flow rate (Qmax).

RESULTS

Before treatment, urinary GAG level was 21.5 mg/gCr (6.1-45.5) in Group 1, and 23.35 mg/gCr (15.6-32.6) in Group 2 (p =0.845). After the treatment, the GAG level in Group 1 and Group 2 were found to be 19.8 mg/gCr (7.4-70.5) and 18 (7.6- 41.7), respectively (p = 0.511). No difference in GAG levels was found in subgroup analysis for patients with or without OAB.

CONCLUSIONS

In recent years, there have been many studies investigating the relationship between LUTS and urinary markers. However, in our prospective study, no relationship was found between pre- and post- treatment urinary GAG levels in patients with LUTS with or without OAB.

Investigation of intradetrusor onabotulinum toxin A efficacy and safety in older adults with urge urinary incontinence

PURPOSE

Intradetrusor onabotulinum toxin A (BTX-A) has been demonstrated to be an effective treatment option for overactive bladder (OAB). However, concerns about frailty and frequent injections may deter its use in the elderly. This study aims to assess the safety, efficacy, and treatment duration of BTX-A in managing OAB in elderly women.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed female patients aged 70 and above who were diagnosed with OAB with predominant urge urinary incontinence and underwent intravesical BTX-A treatment. We collected demographic and clinical data, with repeat BTX-A injections re-administered upon patient-reported symptom recurrence.

RESULTS

Twenty-one female patients, median age 77 (range 71-92), were included. The median time between the first and second injection was 185 (84-448) days, 186 (105-959) days between the second and third injection, and increased to 206.5 (84-256) days between the third and fourth injection. However, the median interval trended downward after the fourth injection (Fig. 1). Patients with four or more injections had a shorter median interval between injections, 154 days, compared to those with fewer injections, 210 days. Two patients (6.9%) experienced urinary retention after the initial treatment, with 1 (2.2%) among a total of 46 subsequent treatments (Table 3). There were ten (13.3%) episodes of UTIs within 2 weeks of treatment. Patients reported improvement in symptoms following 93.3% of the injections.

CONCLUSION

This real-world study demonstrates that BTX-A effectively controls OAB symptoms in elderly women, with just two injections annually. BTX-A appears safe and efficacious for treating OAB in elderly females.

Clinical tools for evaluating the severity of overactive bladder: A systematic review of psychometric properties

OBJECTIVES

To systematically evaluate the evidence describing the psychometric properties of clinical measures for assessing overactive bladder symptoms (urinary urgency with or without urge urinary incontinence, urinary frequency and nocturia). To evaluate the quality of this evidence-base using the COnsensus-based Standards for selecting health status Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) tools.

DATA SOURCES

Five electronic databases (CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Scopus and Web of Science) were searched from dataset inception to August 2023.

REVIEW METHODS

Study screening, data extraction and quality appraisal were performed by two independent authors. Inclusion criteria were studies testing one or more psychometric properties of clinical tools for the assessment of overactive bladder symptoms among adults aged 18 years and older for both sexes. The methodological quality and quality of the evidence were evaluated using the COSMIN checklist and GRADE tools, respectively.

RESULTS

The search identified 40 studies totalling 10,634 participants evaluating the psychometric properties of 15 clinical tools. The COSMIN methodological quality was rated good for most measures, and the GRADE quality of evidence ranged from low (13%) to high (33%). The Overactive Bladder Symptom Score, Overactive Bladder Questionnaire and Neurogenic Bladder Symptom Score were of good methodological and high-GRADE evidence qualities.

CONCLUSION

Overactive Bladder Symptom Score, the Overactive Bladder Questionnaire and the Neurogenic Bladder Symptoms Score are promising psychometrically sound measures. The Overactive Bladder Symptom Score has been applied to the most culturally diverse populations supported by studies of good methodological and high-GRADE evidence quality.

Primary care providers practice patterns regarding female pelvic floor disorders

INTRODUCTION

Pelvic floor disorders (PFDs) pose substantial physical and psychological burdens for a growing number of women. Given the ubiquity of these conditions and known patient reluctance to seek care, primary care providers (PCPs) have a unique opportunity to increase treatment and provide appropriate referrals for these patients.

METHODS

An online survey was administered to PCPs to assess provider practices, knowledge, comfort managing and ease of referral for PFDs. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between demographic/practice characteristics of PCPs and two primary outcomes of interest: discomfort with management and difficulty with referral of PFDs.

RESULTS

Of the 153 respondents to the survey, more felt comfortable managing stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and overactive bladder (OAB), compared with pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and faecal incontinence (FI) and were less likely to refer patients with urinary symptoms. Few providers elicited symptoms for POP and FI as compared with SUI and OAB. Provider variables that were significantly associated with discomfort with management varied by PFD, but tended to correlate with less exposure to PFDs (eg, those with fewer years of practice, and internal medicine and family physicians as compared with geriatricians); whereas the factors that were significantly associated with difficulty in referral, again varied by PFD, but were related to practice characteristics (eg, specialist network, type of practice, practice setting and quantity of patients).

CONCLUSION

These findings highlight the need to increase PCPs awareness of PFDs and develop effective standardised screening protocols, as well as collaboration with pelvic floor specialists to improve screening, treatment and referral for patients with PFDs.

Unraveling the interplay between dyskinesia and overactive bladder symptoms in Parkinson's disease: a comprehensive cohort study based on the long-term follow-up database of Parkinson's disease

OBJECTIVES

Overactive bladder (OAB) and dyskinesia are frequent complications in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the correlation between OAB and dyskinesia has been insufficiently explored. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between dyskinesia, OAB, and clinical characteristics among individuals with PD.

METHODS

1338 PD patients were included in the present study. Demographic features were compared between patients with or without dyskinesia and OAB symptoms. Logistic regression was conducted on dyskinesia to screen clinically relevant factors. Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS) was further used to stratify the association between the severity of OAB and the occurrence of dyskinesia.

RESULTS

This study indicates that both dyskinesia and OAB are significantly related to disease severity and cognitive status. PD patients with dyskinesia and OAB having higher UPDRS scores (p < 0.001), H-Y scores (p < 0.001), NMSQ (p < 0.001) and MoCA scores (p < 0.001), and lower MMSE scores (p < 0.001) are identified. The multivariate logistic regression confirms that disease duration (p = 0.041), LEDD (p < 0.001), UPDRSII (p < 0.001), MoCA (p = 0.024), urgency (p < 0.001), frequency (p < 0.001), and nocturia (p = 0.002) are independent risk factors for dyskinesia. Trend analysis indicates that the risk of dyskinesia significantly increases when patients exhibit moderate to severe OAB symptoms (OABSS > 5) (p < 0.001). No significant interactions were found between OABSS and age, gender, disease duration, LEDD, and NMSQ scores in different subgroups, indicating that dyskinesia is more pronounced in patients with OABSS > 5.

DISCUSSION

This study provides compelling evidence supporting the strong correlation between OAB and dyskinesia in PD patients, emphasizing the presence of shared pathogenic mechanisms between these two conditions. Our findings underscore the importance of considering both OAB and dyskinesia in the clinical management of PD, investigating the intricate connections between OAB and dyskinesia could unveil valuable insights into the complex pathophysiology of PD and potentially identify novel therapeutic targets for more effective PD treatment strategies.

Black box in overactive bladder: Central sensitization and its relationship with urinary symptom severity and quality of life

AIM

To examine central sensitization (CS), and to investigate the relationship between CS, and urinary symptom severity, and quality of life (QoL) in women with overactive bladder (OAB).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 144 women with OAB included the study. CS with the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI), urinary symptom with the Overactive Bladder Questionnaire-Version 8 (OAB-V8), bladder diary and Patients' Perception of Intensity of Urgency Scale (PPIUS) and QoL with the King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ) were assessed.

RESULTS

It was found that 47.9% (n = 69) of women with OAB had CS. It was observed that the CSI score was related to the OAB-V8 score (ρ = 0.327; p < 0.001) and the average number of voids/day (ρ = 0.291; p < 0.001). Additionally, urgency severity was higher in women with OAB with CS than in women with OAB without CS (p = 0.006). There was a relationship between the CSI score and KHQ-incontinence impact (ρ = 0.250; p = 0.012), KHQ-personal relationship (ρ = 0.253; p = 0.002), KHQ-sleep/energy (ρ = 0.180; p = 0.031), KHQ-emotional state (ρ = 0.310; p < 0.001) and KHQ-severity measurement scores (ρ = 0.391; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

In this study, it was observed that the majority of women with OAB had CS. It was found that more severe symptoms of CS were associated with worse urinary symptom severity and QoL in these patients. It may be beneficial to evaluate CS in the management of OAB and to consider CS when determining treatment strategies.

[Bladder Dysfunction and Neurology: How to Assess Neurogenic Bladder Dysfunction?]

Here we reviewed bladder dysfunction in neurological diseases. Diseases of the brain cause overactive bladder (OAB); peripheral neuropathy including lumbar spondylosis results in postvoid residual; and spinal cord diseases cause a combination of OAB and postvoid residual. Multiple system atrophy mimics bladder dysfunction related to spinal cord disease. Conversely, in cases of bladder dysfunction of unknown etiologies, the underlying disease can be identified by the bladder dysfunction pattern. Aging also causes nocturnal polyuria. The collaboration between neurologists and urologists is highly recommended to maximize the quality of life of neurological patients.

Safety and efficacy of an α1 -blocker plus mirabegron compared with an α1 -blocker plus antimuscarinic in men with lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia and overactive bladder: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

AIM

Antimuscarinics and the β3-adrenoreceptor agonist, mirabegron, are commonly used for treating patients with overactive bladder (OAB) and α1 -adrenoreceptor antagonists (α1 -blockers) are the main pharmacological agents used for treating lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). As these conditions commonly occur together, the aim of this systematic review was to identify publications that compared the use of an α1 -blocker plus mirabegron with an α1 -blocker plus antimuscarinic in men with LUTS secondary to BPH and OAB. A meta-analysis was subsequently conducted to explore the safety and efficacy of these combinations.

METHODS

Included records had to be from a parallel-group, randomized clinical trial that was ≥8 weeks in duration. Participants were male with LUTS secondary to BPH and OAB. The indirect analyses that were identified compared an α1 -blocker plus OAB agent with an α1 -blocker plus placebo. The PubMed/Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, the Excerpta Medica Database, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and the ClinicalTrials.gov registry were searched for relevant records up until March 5, 2020. Safety outcomes included incidences of overall treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and urinary retention, postvoid residual volume, and maximum urinary flow (Qmax ). Primary efficacy outcomes were micturitions/day, incontinence episodes/day, and urgency episodes/day, and secondary outcomes were Overactive Bladder Symptom Score and International Prostate Symptom Score. A Bayesian network meta-analysis approach was used for the meta-analysis.

RESULTS

Out of a total of 1039 records identified, 24 were eligible for inclusion in the meta-analysis. There were no statistically significant differences between the α1 -blocker plus mirabegron and α1 -blocker plus antimuscarinic groups in terms of the comparisons identified for all the safety and efficacy analyses conducted. Numerically superior results were frequently observed for the α1 -blocker plus mirabegron group compared with the α1 -blocker plus antimuscarinic group for the safety parameters, including TEAEs, urinary retention, and Qmax . For some of the efficacy parameters, most notably micturitions/day, numerically superior results were noted for the α1 -blocker plus antimuscarinic group. Inconsistency in reporting and study variability were noted in the included records, which hindered data interpretation.

CONCLUSION

This systematic review and meta-analysis showed that an α1 -blocker plus mirabegron and an α1 -blocker plus antimuscarinic have similar safety and efficacy profiles in male patients with LUTS secondary to BPH and OAB. Patients may, therefore, benefit from the use of either combination within the clinical setting.

Over Active Bladder Index (OABI): A New Objective Tool Based on Uroflow Parameters for Diagnosis of Overactive Bladder in Children

AIMS

The aim of this study is to propose an objective uroflow based index for diagnosing over active bladder (OAB).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty patients with OAB and 30 controls were used in the pilot study. Three uroflow parameters: Uroflow index (UI = Qave/Qmax), voided volume ratio (VVR = voided volume/expected bladder capacity) and time to Q max (TQmax) were studied. Linear regression was performed for the three parameters with controls/OAB patients. Further 28 patients & 32 controls were recruited in a second validation study.

RESULTS

Mean (s.d) UI was 0.7 (0.1) in control while 0.4 (0.1) in OAB (p = 0.001). Mean (s.d) VVR was 0.7 (0.1) in control while 0.5 (0.1) in OAB (p = 0.01). Mean (s.d) TQmax was 5.2 (1.2) in control while 2.1 (1.8) in OAB (p = 0.001). Good correlation was noted with all parameters UI (r = 0.89); VVR (r = 0.87) and TQmax (r = 0.76); when all three were combined as an index the correlation was better (r = 0.95). Based on the beta coefficients an OAB Index [OABI = 8(UI)+9(VVR)+0.5(TQmax)] was proposed; ROC analysis revealed a cutoff of 12 (AUC 0.96). An OABI of <12 was proposed for diagnosing OAB, 12-15 for equivocal and >15 for normal children. In the validation study OABI had 93 % sensitivity; 100 % specificity; 100 % positive predictive value & 94 % negative predictive value. The overall accuracy was 97 %.

CONCLUSION

While current diagnosis of OAB is mainly subjective, the proposed OABI is an objective way of diagnosing OAB using uroflow parameters. OABI may also help to assess treatment response. Further larger studies are warranted.

Does choice of anesthesia during stage 1 sacral neuromodulation testing influence outcomes?

INTRODUCTION

Staged sacral neuromodulation (SNM) testing has been shown to have a high rate of progression to permanent implantation for the management of voiding dysfunction. Stage 1 lead placement (SNM-I) can be performed under monitored anesthesia care (MAC) or general anesthesia (GA). MAC allows for interpretation of sensory and motor responses to optimize lead placement while GA only permits for motor assessment. However, patient discomfort and movement can make lead placement challenging during MAC. Herein we evaluate whether the anesthesia type impacts the progression rate to permanent implantation (SNM-II).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective chart review was performed for patients who underwent SNM-I in the operating room for wet overactive bladder between 2005 and 2023. Patients were divided into two groups based on the type of anesthesia used, MAC or GA. Clinical variables and progression to SNM-II were compared between cohorts. Progression to SNM-II was based on ≥50% symptomatic improvement during a 1-2 week trial period following SNM-I.

RESULTS

Of 121 patients included in the study, 95 (79%) underwent MAC and 26 (21%) GA for SNM-I. No difference in the progression rate to SNM-II was noted between groups (MAC, 68/95 patients, 72%; GA, 19/26, 73%; p = 0.39). We also found no difference when comparing the GA group to the 26 most recent MAC patients (MAC, 20/26 patients, 77%; GA, 19/26, 73%; p = 0.48).

CONCLUSION

Types of anesthesia for SNM-I did not affect rate of progression to SNM-II. The result lends support to the reliance on motor responses alone for lead placement during SNM-I.

Real-world onabotulinumtoxinA treatment patterns in patients with overactive bladder

PURPOSE

Utilization patterns of third-line onabotulinumtoxinA for overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms-including discontinuation and use of other therapeutic options during or after treatment-are not well understood. This retrospective analysis of administrative claims was designed to characterize the unmet need for OAB treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective claims analysis of Optum's deidentified Clinformatics® Data Mart Database (2009-2021) was performed among patients with diagnosis of OAB newly starting onabotulinumtoxinA injection (2015-2017). Study measures were evaluated during an 18-month pretreatment baseline and over a minimum of 36 months of follow-up. These included number of injections, days between injections, other measures of onabotulinumtoxinA utilization, use of second-line pharmacologic treatments, use of device and surgical treatment options, and complications.

RESULTS

Of 2505 eligible patients, 535 (21.4%; 66.8 ± 13.3 y, 87.3% females) continued onabotulinumtoxinA throughout the study. The remaining 1970 (78.6%; 71.4 ± 11.6 y, 79.1% females) were considered discontinuers. Of continuers, 57% received ≥5 treatments. Of discontinuers, 84% received ≤2 treatments. Anticholinergics and β3-adrenoceptor agonist medication use declined in all patients from baseline to follow-up; however, the absolute reduction in the proportion with any medication fill was similar across continuers versus discontinuers (21% vs. 18%, p < 0.0001). Sacral neuromodulation was initiated by 15/535 (3%) of continuers and 137/1970 (7%) of discontinuers (p < 0.0001). No patients initiated percutaneous tibial neuromodulation.

CONCLUSIONS

Early discontinuation of onabotulinumtoxinA therapy for OAB is common and most discontinuers do not receive alternative treatments. Providers have the opportunity to educate OAB patients with un- or undertreated symptoms regarding alternative options.

An observational, patient-reported outcome study of sleep quality and depression among individuals with overactive bladder syndrome

INTRODUCTION

Overactive bladder (OAB) can adversely affect health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) and adherence to treatments; however, the extent of their association is unknown. This study sought to characterize Sleep Disturbance, Depression, Fatigue, and patient-reported medication adherence among adults with OAB in the United States. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this descriptive, observational study, patients completed patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures of urinary symptoms, anxiety, depression, fatigue, sleep quality, and medication adherence. PRO scores were compared across age, sex, body mass index, and sleep and antidepressant medication-taking subgroups. Exploratory analyses compared PRO scores between groups and estimated the effect size of differences.

RESULTS

Of 1013 patients contacted, 159 completed the assessments (female: 67.3%; ≥65 years of age: 53.5%; most severe OAB symptom: nocturia). Scale scores for Sleep Disturbance, Fatigue, and Depression were consistent with US population norms. No correlations of moderate or greater magnitude were observed between the severity of lower urinary tract symptoms and Sleep Disturbance, Fatigue, or Depression. When comparing individuals receiving antidepressants with those who were not, almost all outcomes including urinary symptoms, anxiety, and depression were significantly worse. Patients taking antidepressants also had poorer adherence to their OAB medications.

CONCLUSION

In this cohort of individuals with OAB, Sleep Disturbance, Fatigue, and Depression scores were in line with general population reference values; however, among the subgroups analyzed, patients on antidepressants had worse HRQoL and more substantial impacts on medication adherence, highlighting the importance of the assessment and management of depression in this population.

Mirabegron Add-On Tamsulosin for Men with Overactive Bladder Symptoms: A Pooled Analysis of Four Randomized Controlled Trials

INTRODUCTION

Overactive bladder symptoms (OABSs) affect patients' quality of life (QOL) worldwide. This pooled analysis compared the efficacy and safety of mirabegron add-on tamsulosin with those of tamsulosin add-on placebo in OABS treatment.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Controlled Trial Register databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the efficacy of mirabegron add-on therapy to tamsulosin in the treatment of OABS. Moreover, references from the selected studies were screened. Review Manager 5.4 was used to analyze data.

RESULTS

Four RCTs involving 1,397 patients with OABS were selected. Of the total, 697 patients receiving mirabegron add-on tamsulosin constituted the experimental group, and 700 patients receiving tamsulosin add-on placebo constituted the control group. The efficacy endpoints were as follows: mean number of micturition per day (mean difference [MD] = -0.26, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -0.41 to -0.10, p = 0.0001), urgency episodes per day (MD = -0.67, 95% CI = -1.02 to -0.32, p = 0.0002), urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) episodes per day (MD = -0.42, 95% CI = -0.66 to -0.19, p = 0.0005), mean volume voided/micturition (MD = 10.84, 95% CI = 4.97-16.71, p = 0.0003), total International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) (MD = -2.01, 95% CI = -4.02 to -0.01, p = 0.05), and IPSS QOL index (MD = -0.65, 95% CI = -0.94 to -0.35, p < 0.0001). Mirabegron therapy, an add-on therapy to tamsulosin, was effective in treating patients with OABS. Moreover, mirabegron might reduce the total IPSS (MD = -2.01, 95% CI = -4.02 to -0.01, p = 0.05). The safety endpoint, treatment-emergent adverse events (odds ratio = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.78-1.13, p = 0.49), suggested that although mirabegron was well-tolerated, it possibly increased the post-void residual urine volume (MD = 10.28, 95% CI = 1.82-18.75, p = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

Combination therapy using mirabegron and tamsulosin may be effective in treating patients with non-neurogenic OABS in terms of UUI episodes, total IPSS, and IPSS QOL index. However, its effectiveness must be verified by analyzing additional factors for OABS through further RCTs.

Injection site number and outcomes of intradetrusor onabotulinumtoxinA for refractory overactive bladder syndrome: a randomized clinical trial

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

The optimal number of onabotulinumtoxinA injections for the treatment of refractory overactive bladder syndrome is unknown. Our primary objective was to determine whether 10-injections sites with 100 units of onabotulinumtoxinA each were associated with less pain than 20-injections sites.

METHODS

In a single-blinded randomized trial, 100 units of onabotulinumtoxinA was administered, either as 10 × 1 ml or as 20 × 0.5 ml injections following the instillation of 30 ml of bupivacaine and 5 ml of NaHCO3 solution for 15 min. The primary outcome was procedural pain, as measured on an 11-point Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) immediately following the procedure. A power calculation estimated that 16 subjects in each arm were needed to detect a mean difference of 1 with a standard deviation of 1, on the NPRS score between the two treatment groups, with α 0.05 and power 80%. To adjust for an estimated 20% dropout rate, the final sample size was planned for 20 patients per group.

RESULTS

From October 2020 to November 2022, a total of 56 patients were approached and 40 were enrolled and randomized to two groups (21 in the 10-injections group and 19 in 20-injections group). The difference in the median pain score between the group was not statistically significant (4 [1.5-5] for 10 injections vs 3 [1-4] for 20 injections, p=0.823).

CONCLUSION

Patients' perception of pain, efficacy, and adverse events did not significantly differ between patients receiving 10 and those receiving 20 injections of 100 units of onabotulinumtoxinA.