Primary Palliative Care in Urology: Quality Improvement Summit 2021-2022

INTRODUCTION

The AUA convened a 2021-2022 Quality Improvement Summit to bring together interdisciplinary providers to inform the current state and to discuss potential strategies for integrating primary palliative care into urology practice. We hypothesized that the Summit findings would inform a scalable primary palliative care model for urology.

METHODS

The 3-part summit reached a total of 160 interdisciplinary health care professionals. Webinar 1, "Building a Primary Palliative Care Model for Urology," focused on a urologist's role in palliative care. Webinar 2, "Perspectives on Increasing the Use of Palliative Care in Advanced Urologic Disease," addressed barriers to possible implementation of a primary palliative care model. The in-person Summit, "Laying the Foundation for Primary Palliative Care in Urology," focused on operationalization of primary palliative care, clinical innovations needed, and relevant metrics.

RESULTS

Participants agreed that palliative care is needed early in the disease course for patients with advanced disease, including those with benign and malignant conditions. The group agreed about the important domains that should be addressed as well as the interdisciplinary providers who are best suited to address each domain. There was consensus that a primary "quarterback" was needed, encapsulated in a conceptual model-UroPal-with a urologist at the hub of care.

CONCLUSIONS

The Summit provides the field of urology with a framework and specific steps that can be taken to move urology-palliative care integration forward. Urologists are uniquely positioned to provide primary palliative care for their many patients with serious illness, both in the surgical and chronic care contexts.

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 that 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.

Sacral neuromodulation in nursing home residents: Predictors of success and complications in a national cohort of older adults

AIMS

There is limited evidence to support the efficacy of sacral neuromodulation (SNM) for older adults with overactive bladder (OAB). This study aims to report outcomes following SNM among nursing home (NH) residents, a vulnerable population with high rates of frailty and comorbidity.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study of long-stay NH residents who underwent a trial of percutaneous nerve evaluation (PNE) or Stage 1 permanent lead placement (Stage 1) between 2014 and 2016. Residents were identified using the Minimum Data Set linked to Medicare claims. The primary outcome of this study was successful progression from trial to implant. Rates of 1-year device explant/revisions were also investigated.

RESULTS

Trial of SNM was observed in 1089 residents (mean age: 77.9 years). PNE was performed in 66.9% of residents and 33.2% underwent Stage 1. Of Stage 1 procedures, 23.8% were performed with simultaneous device implant (single-stage). Overall, 53.1% of PNEs and 72.4% of Stage 1 progressed to device implant, which was associated with Stage 1 procedure versus PNE (adjusted relative risk [aRR]: 1.34; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.21-1.49) and female versus male sex (aRR: 1.26; 95% CI: 1.09-1.46). One-year explant/revision was observed in 9.3% of residents (6.3% for PNE, 10.5% for Stage 1, 20.3% single-stage). Single stage procedure versus PNE was significantly associated with device explant/revision (aRR: 3.4; 95% CI: 1.9-6.2).

CONCLUSIONS

In this large cohort of NH residents, outcomes following SNM were similar to previous reports of younger healthier cohorts. Surgeons managing older patients with OAB should use caution when selecting patients for single stage SNM procedures.

Antibiotic use, best practice statement adherence, and UTI rate for intradetrusor onabotulinumtoxin-A injection for overactive bladder: A multi-institutional collaboration from the SUFU Research Network (SURN)

INTRODUCTION

Onabotulinumtoxin A (BTX-A) is a well-established treatment for overactive bladder (OAB). The American Urological Association (AUA) 2008 Antibiotic Best Practice Statement (BPS) recommended trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or fluoroquinolone for cystoscopy with manipulation. The aim of the study was to evaluate concordance with antibiotic best practices at the time of BTX-A injection and urinary tract infection (UTI) rates based on antibiotic regimen.

METHODS

Men and women undergoing first-time BTX-A injection for idiopathic OAB with 100 units in 2016, within the SUFU Research Network (SURN) multi-institutional retrospective database were included. Patients on suppressive antibiotics were excluded. The primary outcome was concordance of periprocedural antibiotic use with the AUA 2008 BPS antimicrobials of choice for "cystoscopy with manipulation." As a secondary outcome we compared the incidence of UTI among women within 30 days after BTX-A administration. Each outcome was further stratified by procedure setting (office vs. operating room; OR).

RESULTS

Of the cohort of 216 subjects (175 women, 41 men) undergoing BTX-A, 24 different periprocedural antibiotic regimens were utilized, and 98 (45%) underwent BTX-A injections in the OR setting while 118 (55%) underwent BTX-A injection in the office. Antibiotics were given to 86% of patients in the OR versus 77% in office, and 8.3% of subjects received BPS concordant antibiotics in the OR versus 82% in office. UTI rates did not vary significantly among the 141 subjects who received antibiotics and had 30-day follow-up (8% BPS-concordant vs. 16% BPS-discordant, CI -2.4% to 19%, p = 0.13). A sensitivity analysis of UTI rates based on procedure setting (office vs. OR) did not demonstrate any difference in UTI rates (p = 0.14).

CONCLUSIONS

This retrospective multi-institutional study demonstrates that antibiotic regimens and adherence to the 2008 AUA BPS were highly variable among providers with lower rates of BPS concordant antibiotic use in the OR setting. UTI rates at 30 days following BTX-A did not vary significantly based on concordance with the BPS or procedure setting.

How older men live with stress urinary incontinence: Patient experience and navigation to treatment

OBJECTIVES

To explore the context in which older men navigate treatment for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) following prostate surgery by characterizing lived experience of men with symptomatic SUI.

SUBJECTS/PATIENTS AND METHODS

Mixed method study using surveys and semistructured interviews to examine a cohort of men who underwent evaluation for treatment of postprostatectomy SUI.

RESULTS

Thirty-six men were interviewed after consultation for SUI and 31 had complete quantitative clinical data. Twenty-six underwent surgery and 10 chose no surgical intervention. In qualitative interviews, respondents experienced substantial decline in quality of life due to incontinence citing concerns associated with use of pads and worrying about incontinence. Most patients reported "workarounds"-efforts to mitigate or manage incontinence including Kegels, physical therapy, and garments. Participants also reported lifestyle changes including less strenuous physical activity, less sexual activity, and/or fewer social gatherings. Patients then described a "breaking point" where incontinence workarounds were no longer sufficient. After seeking evaluation, men described challenges in exploring treatment for SUI, including access to care and provider knowledge of treatment options.

CONCLUSION

In a novel study of patients living with SUI a predictable lived experience was observed that culminated in a desire for change or "breaking point." In all men, this led to treatment-seeking behaviors and for many it led to SUI intervention. Despite effective treatments, patients continue to meet barriers gaining access to SUI evaluation and treatment.

Association Between Common Urologic Medications and Onset of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias in Men With Prostate Cancer Managed by Different Primary Treatment Modalities

OBJECTIVE

To understand the relationship between common urologic medications phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE5i) and anticholinergics (AC) and risk of dementia onset in men who underwent different primary treatments for prostate cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients (>50years) with prostate cancer (1998-2022) without Alzheimer's disease or related dementias were selected from Cancer of the Prostatic Strategic Urologic Research Endeavor Registry. Minimum medication use was 3months. Fine-Gray regression was performed to determine the association between medication exposure and dementia onset ≥12months after primary treatment in men matched on age, race, comorbid conditions, smoking, and type of clinical site, with competing risk of death.

RESULTS

Among 5937 men (53% PDE5i; 14% AC), PDE5i users were younger (63 vs 70, P < .01) with less CAD, CVA, DM (all P < .01); AC users were older (68 vs 66, P < .01) with higher incidence of comorbidities (P < .01). Median months of use was 24.3 (IQR 12.1, 48.7) for PDE5i and 12.2 (IQR 6.1, 24.3) for AC users. Cumulative incidence of Alzheimer's disease or related dementias was 6.5% at 15years. PDE5i (P = .07) and AC (P = .06) were not associated with dementia regardless of primary treatment modality.

CONCLUSION

In this retrospective cohort study, PDE5i and AC use do not appear independently associated with risk of dementia. Notably, our cohort was generally healthy and younger which may limit our ability to detect significance. We recommend prospective investigation into association between PDE5i and dementia and advise continued judicious stewardship of AC in older patient populations.

Lower urinary tract symptom severity, urinary bother, and incident life-space mobility restriction among older men

BACKGROUND

Life-space mobility represents the distance, frequency, and independence of mobility, ranging from one's bedroom to beyond their town. Older men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) may limit their life-space to stay close to a bathroom. However, it's unknown whether LUTS severity or urinary bother are associated with risk of life-space mobility restriction.

METHODS

We analyzed data from 3025 community-dwelling men age ≥71 years without life-space mobility restriction at analytic baseline (Year 7) of the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) study. The American Urologic Association Symptom Index (AUASI) was assessed at baseline and includes one question assessing urinary bother ("If you were to spend the rest of your life with your urinary condition just the way it is now, how would you feel about that?"; score 0-1,2,3,4-6) and seven items to classify LUTS severity as none/mild (score 0-7), moderate (8-19), or severe (20-35). The University of Alabama Life-space Assessment was used to define life-space mobility restriction (≤60) at baseline and follow-up (Year 9). We used log-binomial regression with robust variance estimators to model adjusted risk ratios (ARR) for LUTS severity and urinary bother with incident life-space mobility restriction, controlling for age, site, health-related factors, and comorbidities. We then mutually adjusted for urinary bother and LUTS severity.

RESULTS

Overall, the 2-year risk of life-space mobility restrictions was 9.9%. Compared to men without urinary bother (scores 0-1), the risk of life-space mobility restriction was significantly higher among men with bother scores of 4-6 (ARR = 2.20, 95% CI: 1.52, 3.19), independent of LUTS severity and confounders. Conversely, LUTS severity was not independently associated with the risk of life-space mobility restriction.

CONCLUSIONS

Urinary bother, but not LUTS severity, is independently associated with incident life-space mobility restriction among older men. To maintain life-space mobility in older men with LUTS, future studies should identify shared mechanisms and interventions that minimize urinary bother.

Longitudinal Associations between Concurrent Changes in Phenotypic Frailty and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms among Older Men

BACKGROUND

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are associated with prevalent frailty and functional impairment, but longitudinal associations remain unexplored.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the association of change in phenotypic frailty with concurrent worsening LUTS severity among older men without clinically significant LUTS at baseline.

DESIGN

Multicenter, prospective cohort study.

SETTING

Population-based.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants included community-dwelling men age ≥65 years at enrollment in the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men study.

MEASUREMENTS

Data were collected at 4 visits over 7 years. Phenotypic frailty score (range: 0-5) was defined at each visit using adapted Fried criterion and men were categorized at baseline as robust (0), pre-frail (1-2), or frail (3-5). Within-person change in frailty was calculated at each visit as the absolute difference in number of criteria met compared to baseline. LUTS severity was defined using the American Urologic Association Symptom Index (AUASI; range: 0-35) and men with AUASI ≥8 at baseline were excluded. Linear mixed effects models were adjusted for demographics, health-behaviors, and comorbidities to quantify the association between within-person change in frailty and AUASI.

RESULTS

Among 3235 men included in analysis, 48% were robust, 45% were pre-frail, and 7% were frail. Whereas baseline frailty status was not associated with change in LUTS severity, within-person increases in frailty were associated with greater LUTS severity (quadratic P<0.001). Among robust men at baseline, mean predicted AUASI during follow-up was 4.2 (95% CI 3.9, 4.5) among those meeting 0 frailty criteria, 4.6 (95% CI 4.3, 4.9) among those meeting 1 criterion increasing non-linearly to 11.2 (95% CI 9.8, 12.6) among those meeting 5 criteria.

CONCLUSIONS

Greater phenotypic frailty was associated with non-linear increases in LUTS severity in older men over time, independent of age and comorbidities. Results suggest LUTS and frailty share an underlying mechanism that is not targeted by existing LUTS interventions.

The Role of Frailty on Surgical Outcomes Following Pelvic Organ Prolapse Surgery in Medicare Beneficiaries: A National Study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association of frailty with surgical outcomes following pelvic organ prolapse (POP) surgery in Medicare beneficiaries.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study of female Medicare beneficiaries ≥65 years of age undergoing POP surgery between 2014 and 2016. Primary outcomes were hospital length-of-stay (LOS) ≥3 days, 30-day post-operative complications (excluding urinary tract infections (UTI)), and 30-day UTI. Frailty was quantified using the validated Claims-Based Frailty Index (CFI) and categorized into not frail (CFI<0.15), pre-frail (0.15≤CFI<0.25), mildly frail (0.25≤CFI<0.35), and moderately to severely frail (0.35≤CFI≤1).

RESULTS

Among the 107,890 women included (mean age, 73.3±6 years), 91.3% were White as and 4.3% were classified as mildly or moderately to severely frail. Rates of hospital LOS≥3 days and 30-day UTI increased over 7-fold and rates of 30-day complications increased over 3-fold as CFI increased from not frail to moderately to severely frail (all P values <.001). Compared to women who were not frail, women who were moderately to severely frail demonstrated an increased relative risk of hospital LOS≥3 days (aRR 3.1 [95% CI 2.5-3.8,P <.001]), 30-day complications (aRR 2.8 [95% CI 2.2-3.6, P <.001]), and 30-day UTI (aRR 2.5 [95% CI 2.2-3.0, P <.001]).

CONCLUSION

Among Medicare beneficiaries undergoing POP surgery in the United States, frailty is strongly associated with increased risk of prolonged hospital stay and 30-day complications. Frailty should be considered in the preoperative assessment for POP surgeries to improve patient outcomes.

Functional and cognitive outcomes after suprapubic catheter placement in nursing home residents: A national cohort study

BACKGROUND

Long-term functional and cognitive outcomes in nursing home residents after procedures are poorly understood. Our objective was to evaluate these outcomes after suprapubic tube (SPT) placement.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective, cohort study in the nursing home setting. Participants were long-term nursing home residents who underwent SPT placement from 2014 to 2016 in the United States. SPT placements were identified in Medicare Inpatient, Outpatient, and Carrier files using International Classification of Diseases and Current Procedural Terminology codes. Residents were identified through the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 for Nursing Home Residents. MDS Activities of Daily Living (MDS-ADL) and Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) scores were used to assess function and cognition, respectively. Outcomes of interest were worsening MDS-ADL and BIMS scores at 1 year postoperatively, 30-day postoperative complications, and 1-year mortality. Functional and cognitive trajectories were modeled to 1 year postoperatively using mixed-effect spline models.

RESULTS

From 2014 to 2016, 9647 residents with a mean age of 80.9 (SD 8.1) years underwent SPT placement. At 1 year postoperatively, 37.6% of residents died, while of survivors, 33.7% had worsening MDS-ADL and 36.2% worsened BIMS. Residents had steeper postoperative rates of functional decline compared to relatively stable preoperative trends that never recovered to baseline status. However, robustly characterizing an association between SPT placement and functional decline would require a propensity score matched cohort without SPT placement. Decline in cognitive status was not clearly associated with SPT placement, suggesting either the natural course of a vulnerable population or limitations of BIMS scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Outcomes important to older adults, such as functional ability and cognitive status, do not show improvement after SPT placement. These findings emphasize that this "minor" procedure should be considered with caution in this population and primarily for palliation.

SUFU white paper on overactive bladder anticholinergic medications and dementia risk

AIMS

Anticholinergic medications are widely used in the treatment of overactive bladder (OAB), as well as for short-term treatment of bladder symptoms following a variety of urologic surgeries. Mounting evidence points to an association between anticholinergic medications and the increased risk of incident dementia. The Society for Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine, and Urogenital Reconstruction (SUFU) thus convened a committee of subject experts to contextualize the current understanding of the cognitive risks of anticholinergic medications in the urologic patient population and to provide practical clinical guidance on this subject.

METHODS

Statements are based on an expert literature review and the committee's opinion. The document has been reviewed and approved by the SUFU board.

RESULTS

Chronic use (>3 months) of OAB anticholinergic medications is likely associated with an increased risk of new-onset dementia. Short-term (<4 weeks) use of most OAB anticholinergic medications is likely safe in most individuals. Clinicians should consider potential cognitive risks in all patient populations when prescribing OAB anticholinergics for chronic use. Consideration should be given to progressing to advanced therapy (botulinum toxin or neuromodulation) earlier in the OAB treatment paradigm CONCLUSIONS: The current body of literature supports a likely small but significant increased risk of dementia with chronic exposure to OAB anticholinergic medications. Potential harms should be balanced against potential quality of life improvement with treatment.

Population Trends in Frailty in Older Adults with Benign Urological Conditions in Northern California

INTRODUCTION

We sought to understand regional variation of frailty across health service areas (HSAs) in Northern and Central California among older adults with benign urological conditions.

METHODS

This retrospective study utilizes the University of California, San Francisco Geriatric Urology Database, which includes adults ≥65 years old with benign urological conditions who underwent a Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT) between December 2015 and June 2020. The TUGT is a validated proxy for frailty, whereby a TUGT ≤10 seconds represents robust individuals and a TUGT >10 seconds represents prefrail and frail individuals. Subjects were assigned to the HSA wherein they live, and HSAs were stratified by mean TUGT scores. Analyses were conducted at the HSA level. Characteristics associated with prefrail/frail HSAs were identified using multivariable logistic regression. Least square means were used to determine variation in adjusted mean TUGT scores.

RESULTS

A total of 2,596 subjects were stratified into 69 HSAs in Northern and Central California. Twenty-one HSAs were categorized as robust and 48 HSAs were categorized as prefrail/frail. Prefrail/frail HSAs were significantly associated with older age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 4.03, CI 3.29-4.94, p <0.001), female sex (aOR 1.10, CI 1.07-1.11, p <0.001), non-White race (aOR 1.12, CI 1.10-1.14, p <0.001), underweight body mass index (BMI; aOR 1.14, CI 1.07-1.22, p <0.001) and obese BMI (aOR 1.06, CI 1.04-1.08, p <0.001). There was a 1.7-fold difference in mean TUGT values across HSAs.

CONCLUSIONS

Older age, non-White race, and underweight and obese BMIs are associated with prefrail/frail HSAs. Further investigation into health disparities as they pertain to geography and frailty is needed to expand upon these findings.

Lower urinary tract symptoms and incident functional limitations among older community-dwelling men

BACKGROUND

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are associated with frailty phenotype, a risk factor for functional decline. Our objective was to determine the association between baseline LUTS and 2-year risk of new functional limitation among older men.

METHODS

We analyzed data from the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) study with baseline at Year 7 and follow-up through Year 9. Participants included 2716 community-dwelling men age ≥ 71 years without any baseline self-reported functional limitation. LUTS severity (American Urologic Association Symptom Index) was classified as none/mild (score 0-7), moderate (8-19), and severe (20-35). At baseline and follow-up, men reported their ability to complete several mobility, activities of daily living (ADLs), and cognition-dependent tasks. Risk was estimated for 3 incident functional limitation outcomes: (1) mobility (any difficulty walking 2-3 blocks or climbing 10 steps), (2) ADL (any difficulty bathing, showering, or transferring), and (3) cognition-dependent (any difficulty managing money or medications). We used Poisson regression with a robust variance estimator to model adjusted risk ratios (ARR) and 95% CIs controlling for age, site, and comorbidities; other demographic/lifestyle factors did not meet criteria for inclusion.

RESULTS

Overall, the 2-year risk was 15% for mobility, 10% for ADLs, and 4% for cognition-dependent task limitations. Compared to none/mild LUTS, risk of incident mobility limitations was increased for moderate (ARR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.12, 1.63) and severe LUTS (ARR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.48, 2.64). Men were also at higher risk for incident ADL limitations if they reported moderate (ARR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.67) and severe LUTS (ARR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.07,2.43). Results were somewhat attenuated after adjusting for the frailty phenotype but remained statistically significant. LUTS were not associated with incident cognition-dependent task limitations.

CONCLUSIONS

LUTS severity is associated with incident mobility and ADL limitations among older men. Increased clinical attention to risk of functional limitations among older men with LUTS is likely warranted.

Incomplete bladder emptying and urinary tract infections after botulinum toxin injection for overactive bladder: Multi-institutional collaboration from the SUFU research network

INTRODUCTION

Onabotulinumtoxin A (BTX-A) is an effective therapy for overactive bladder (OAB), however, adverse events may prevent patients from initiating therapy. The study objective was to report real-world rates of incomplete emptying and urinary tract infection (UTI) in men and women undergoing BTX-A for OAB.

METHODS

Eleven clinical sites performed a retrospective study of adults undergoing first-time BTX-A injection (100 units) for idiopathic OAB in 2016. Exclusions included: postvoid residual (PVR) > 150 ml, prior BTX-A, pelvic radiation, or need for preprocedure catheterization. Primary outcomes at 6 months were incomplete emptying (clean intermittent catheterization [CIC] or PVR ≥ 300 ml without the need for CIC); and UTI (symptoms with either positive culture or urinalysis or empiric treatment). We compared rates of incomplete emptying and UTI within and between sexes, using univariate and multivariable models.

RESULTS

278 patients (48 men and 230 women) met inclusion criteria. Mean age was 65.5 years (range: 24-95). 35% of men and 17% of women had incomplete emptying. Men had 2.4 (95% CI: 1.04-5.49) higher odds of incomplete emptying than women. 17% of men and 23.5% of women had ≥1 UTI, the majority of which occurred within the first month following injection. The strongest predictor of UTI was a history of prior UTI (OR: 4.2 [95% CI: 1.7-10.3]).

CONCLUSIONS

In this multicenter retrospective study, rates of incomplete emptying and UTI were higher than many previously published studies. Men were at particular risk for incomplete emptying. Prior UTI was the primary risk factor for postprocedure UTI.

Association of Frailty Index with Clinical BPH Progression and Serious Adverse Events: the MTOPS Trial

Lower urinary tract symptoms due to suspected benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are increasingly treated with medications targeting obstruction among older men, but frailty may represent a novel risk factor for this condition. Our objective was to assess the associations between frailty and clinical BPH progression or serious adverse events (SAE) among 3047 men, age 50-89 years, enrolled in the Medical Therapy of Prostatic Symptoms Study, a placebo-controlled RCT of doxazosin, finasteride, or combination therapy on clinical BPH progression. We created a frailty index using 69 items collected at baseline and categorized men as fit (0-0.1), less fit (0.1-&lt;0.25), or frail (0.25-1.0). The primary outcomes were time to 1) first composite event of clinical BPH progression, and 2) SAE requiring hospitalization. Cox proportional hazards models were adjusted for demographics, intervention, BPH surrogates, and comorbidities. At baseline, 28% men were fit, 58% were less fit, and 14% were frail. During follow-up (mean 4.5 years), the incidence rate of clinical BPH progression was 2.2/100p-y among fit, 3.0/100p-y among less fit (HR =1.28, 95% CI 0.98, 1.67), and 4.1/100p-y among frail men (HR=1.60, 95% CI 1.13, 2.26). Among men randomized to combination therapy, the SAE incidence rate was 3.4/100p-y for fit men versus 12.7/100p-y for frail men (HR=5.98, 95% CI 3.76, 9.52). In conclusion, frailty is independently associated with greater risk of both clinical BPH progression and SAE. The decision to initiate medical therapy for BPH among frail men should therefore include a discussion of both benefits and risks via shared decision making.

Assessment of Frailty and Association With Progression of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Symptoms and Serious Adverse Events Among Men Using Drug Therapy

IMPORTANCE

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in older men can cause lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), which are increasingly managed with medications. Frailty may contribute to both symptom progression and serious adverse events (SAEs), shifting the balance of benefits and harms of drug therapy.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the association between a deficit accumulation frailty index and clinical BPH progression or SAE.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This cohort study used data from the Medical Therapy of Prostatic Symptoms trial, which compared placebo, doxazosin, finasteride, and combination therapy in men with moderate-to-severe LUTS, reduced urinary flow rate, and no prior BPH interventions, hypotension, or elevated prostate-specific antigen. Enrollment was from 1995 to 1998, and follow-up was through 2001. Data were assessed in February 2021.

EXPOSURES

A frailty index (score range, 0-1) using 68 potential deficits collected at baseline was used to categorized men as robust (score ≤0.1), prefrail (score 0.1 to <0.25), or frail (score ≥0.25).

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Primary outcomes were time to clinical BPH progression and time to SAE, as defined in the parent trial. Adjusted hazard ratios (AHRs) were estimated using Cox proportional hazards regressions adjusted for demographic variables, treatment group, measures of obstruction, and comorbidities.

RESULTS

Among 3047 men (mean [SD] age, 62.6 [7.3] years; range, 50-89 years) in this analysis, 745 (24%) were robust, 1824 (60%) were prefrail, and 478 (16%) were frail at baseline. Compared with robust men, frail men were older (age ≥75 years, 12 men [2%] vs 62 men [13%]), less likely to be White (646 men [87%] vs 344 men [72%]), less likely to be married (599 men [80%] vs 342 men [72%]), and less likely to have 16 years or more of education (471 men [63%] vs 150 men [31%]). During mean (SD) follow-up of 4.0 (1.5) years, the incidence rate of clinical BPH progression was 2.2 events per 100 person-years among robust men, 2.9 events per 100 person-years among prefrail men (AHR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.02-1.83), and 4.0 events per 100 person-years among frail men (AHR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.24-2.67; linear P = .005). Larger point estimates were seen among men who received doxazosin or combination therapy, although the test for interaction between frailty index and treatment group did not reach statistical significance (P for interaction = .06). Risk of SAE was higher among prefrail and frail men (prefrail vs robust AHR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.48-2.23; frail vs robust AHR, 2.86; 95% CI, 2.21-3.69; linear P < .001); this association was similar across treatment groups (P for interaction = .76).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

These findings suggest that frailty is independently associated with greater risk of both clinical BPH progression and SAEs. Older frail men with BPH considering initiation of drug therapy should be counseled regarding their higher risk of progression despite combination therapy and their likelihood of experiencing SAEs regardless of treatment choice.

International Continence Society white paper on ethical considerations in older adults with urinary incontinence

Urinary incontinence is a common problem among older adults that is often complicated by many nuanced ethical considerations. Unfortunately, there is a lack of guidance for healthcare professionals on how to navigate such concerns. This International Continence Society white paper aims to provide healthcare professionals with an ethical framework to promote best care practices in the care of older adults with urinary incontinence.

Longitudinal Changes in Adiposity and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Among Older Men

BACKGROUND

Adiposity increases risk for male lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), although longitudinal studies have produced conflicting results. No prior studies have evaluated longitudinal associations of changes in adiposity with concurrent LUTS severity among older men.

METHODS

We used repeated adiposity measurements from dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), body mass index (BMI), and American Urological Association Symptom Index (AUASI) measured at four study visits over a 9-year period among 5949 men enrolled in the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) study. Linear mixed effect models adjusted for age, health-related behaviors, and comorbidities were created to evaluate the association between baseline and change in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) area, total fat mass, and BMI with change in LUTS severity measured by the AUASI.

RESULTS

A non-linear association was observed between baseline VAT area and change in AUASI: men in baseline VAT tertile (T) 2 had a lower annual increase in AUASI score compared to men in T1 and T3 (T2 versus T1: β=-0.07; 95% CI -0.12, -0.03; P= 0.008; T3 versus T1: NS) but differences were small. No significant associations were observed between change in VAT area and change in AUASI score. Neither baseline tertiles nor change in total fat mass or BMI were associated with change in AUASI score.

CONCLUSIONS

Changes in VAT area, total fat mass, and BMI were not associated with change in LUTS severity in this cohort. Thus, despite other health benefits, interventions targeting adiposity alone are unlikely to be effective for preventing or treating LUTS among older men.

Understanding the Health Characteristics and Treatment Choices of Older Men with Stress Urinary Incontinence

OBJECTIVE

To describe the health characteristics and current treatment choices of male stress urinary incontinence (mSUI) patients to inform patient-centered decision-making.

METHODS

We identified a cohort of mSUI patients aged ≥65 at UCSF and San Francisco VA. Using retrospective chart review and telephone interviews, we ascertained demographics, incontinence characteristics, Charlson Comorbidity Index (score ≥ 4 indicates significant morbidity), frailty with Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, functional dependence with activities of daily living (ADL), calculated life expectancy, and assessed mental health and quality of life (QOL). Bivariate analysis evaluated associations between subject characteristics and ultimate treatment type (conservative vs surgery; sling vs sphincter). Logistic multivariable models evaluating treatment choice were also constructed.

RESULTS

The 130 participants had a mean age of 75 and a mean incontinence score of 14.2 representing moderately bothersome incontinence. Nearly 80% had significant morbidity, three-quarters had >50% 10-year mortality risk, 10% needed help with 1 + ADL and 22% had a TUG >10 seconds indicating frailty. The mean physical and mental QOL scores were similar to the general population. Anxiety and depression were reported by 3.9% and 10%. In univariate and multivariable analysis, only incontinence characteristics were associated with conservative vs surgical treatment choice (P < .01).

CONCLUSION

Multi-morbidity, functional dependence, frailty, and limited life expectancy are common among older men with mSUI, yet current treatment choices appear to be driven by incontinence characteristics. As such, mSUI surgery should be considered among men across the spectrum of health and life expectancy.

Physical Activity, Diet, and Incident Urinary Incontinence in Postmenopausal Women: Women's Health Initiative Observational Study

BACKGROUND

Physical activity and macronutrient intake, important contributors to energy balance, may be independently associated with female urinary incontinence (UI).

METHODS

We evaluated the association of baseline self-reported physical activity and macronutrient intake, via food-frequency questionnaire, with incident UI subtypes after 3 years among 19,741 post-menopausal women in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study. Odds ratios (OR) for incident urgency, stress, and mixed UI were calculated using multivariable logistic regression.

RESULTS

Women who reported total physical activity (MET-hours/week) ≥30 vs <0.1 were 16% less likely to develop urgency UI (OR=0.84; 95% CI 0.70, 1.00) and 34% less likely for mixed UI (OR=0.66; 0.46, 0.95), although linear trends were no longer statistically significant after adjusting for baseline weight and weight change (P-trend=0.15 and 0.16, respectively). The association between physical activity and incident stress UI was less consistent. Higher uncalibrated protein intake was associated with increased odds of incident urgency UI (≥19.4% versus <14.1% of energy intake OR=1.14; 95% CI 0.99, 1.30; P-trend=0.02), while confidence intervals were wide and included 1.0 for calibrated protein intake. Other macronutrients were not associated with urgency UI and macronutrient intake was not associated with incident stress or mixed UI (P-trend>0.05 for all).

CONCLUSIONS

Among post-menopausal women, higher physical activity was associated with lower risk of incident urgency and mixed UI, but not stress UI, independent of baseline weight and weight change. Higher protein intake was associated with increase urgency UI, but no associations were observed between other macronutrient and UI subtypes.

Comparative outcomes for older adults undergoing surgery for bladder and bowel dysfunction

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

To compare surgical outcomes between vulnerable nursing home (NH) residents and matched community-dwelling older adults undergoing surgery for bladder and bowel dysfunction.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 55,389 NH residents and propensity matched (based on procedure, age, sex, race, comorbidity, and year) community-dwelling older adults undergoing surgery for bladder and bowel dysfunction [female pelvic surgery, transurethral resection of the prostate, suprapubic tube placement, hemorrhoid surgery, rectal prolapse surgery]. Individuals were identified using Medicare claims and the Minimum Data Set (MDS) for NH residents between 2014 and 2016.

MEASUREMENTS

Thirty-day complications, 1-year mortality, and weighted changes in healthcare resource utilization (hospital admissions, emergency room visits, office visits) in the year before and after surgery.

RESULTS

NH residents demonstrated statistically significant increased risk of 30-day complications [60.1% v. 47.2%; RR 1.3 (95% CI 1.3-1.3)] and 1-year mortality [28.9% vs. 21.3%; RR 1.4 (95% CI 1.3-1.4)], compared to community-dwelling older adults. NH residents also demonstrated decreased healthcare resource utilization, compared to community-dwelling older adults, changing from 3.9 to 1.9 (vs.1.1 to 1.0) hospital admissions, 11 to 10.1 (vs. 9 to 9.7) office visits, and 3.4 to 2.2 (vs. 1.9 to 1.9) emergency room visits from the year before to after surgery.

CONCLUSION

Despite matching on several important clinical characteristics, NH residents demonstrated increased rates of 30-day complications and 1-year mortality after surgery for bowel and bladder dysfunction, while demonstrating decreased healthcare resource utilization. These mixed findings suggest that outcomes may be more varied among vulnerable older adults and warrant further investigation.

Caregiver Burden Among Those Caring for Patients With Spina Bifida

OBJECTIVE

1) To identify baseline characteristics of caregivers of school-aged children with spina bifida; 2) To identify independent predictors of caregiver burden in this population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A survey was distributed via Facebook advertising to caregivers of patients with congenital genitourinary anomalies from May to September 2018. Eligible participants (n = 408) entailed English-speaking adults who are involved in the patient's care and attend ≥50% of their medical appointments. Caregiver burden was assessed using the Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI), where higher scores indicate higher burden. CBI ≥24 indicates need for respite and CBI ≥36 indicates high risk of burnout. Bivariate analyses (t-tests and chi-square tests) were conducted using STATA software.

RESULTS

Our analysis includes 408 caregivers caring for patients with spina bifida. In our study population, 59.3% of caregivers were in need of respite due to caregiver burden and 26.7% of caregivers were so burdened that they are at risk of burning out (CBI score ≥36). Bivariate analysis showed that caregiver gender and number of tasks performed by the caregiver were significantly associated with risk of burnout (CBI ≥ 36). Multivariable analysis of overall caregiver burden showed increased risk of burnout (CBI ≥ 36) among older caregivers, female caregivers, and those performing more caregiving tasks.

CONCLUSION

Caregiver burden is common among caregivers of patients with spina bifida, and further research is needed to identify strategies and resources for mitigating caregiver burden.

Co-Occurrence of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms and Frailty among Community-Dwelling Older Men

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

To estimate associations between lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and phenotypic frailty in older men.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Community-dwelling men recruited from 2000 to 2002 from six U.S. academic centers for the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 5,979 men aged 65 and older.

MEASUREMENTS

The independent variable was LUTS severity (none/mild, moderate, or severe) assessed with the American Urologic Association Symptom Index. Participants were categorized as frail, intermediate stage, or robust using an adapted Cardiovascular Health Study index (components: low lean mass, weakness, exhaustion, slowness, and low physical activity). Associations were estimated with odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) from multivariable multinomial logistic regression models adjusted for potential confounders of age, other demographics, health-related behaviors, and comorbidities.

RESULTS

The prevalence of frailty was 7%, 11%, and 18% among men with none/mild, moderate, and severe LUTS, respectively. Moderate and severe LUTS, overall and by storage and voiding subscores, were associated with higher odds of both intermediate stage and frailty in all models. After adjustment for confounders, the odds of frailty was 1.41 times higher among men with moderate LUTS (95% CI = 1.14-1.74) and 2.51 times higher among men with severe LUTS (95% CI = 1.76-3.55), compared with none/mild LUTS. Severe LUTS was associated with a greater odds of individual frailty components exhaustion and low physical activity.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of phenotypic frailty is higher among older community-dwelling men with moderate or severe LUTS compared with those with mild or no LUTS. The positive association between LUTS severity and frailty among older men appears independent of age and known frailty risk factors. Although the temporal direction of this association and the utility of LUTS or frailty interventions in this population remain unclear, the high co-occurrence of these conditions could lead to earlier identification of frailty when clinically appropriate.

Race modifies survival benefit of guideline-based treatment: Implications for reducing disparities in muscle invasive bladder cancer

BACKGROUND

Black individuals with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) experienced 21% lower odds of guideline-based treatment (GBT) and differences in treatment explain 35% of observed Black-White differences in survival. Yet little is known of how interactions between race/ethnicity and receipt of GBT drive within- and between-race survival differences.

METHODS

Black, White, and Latino individuals diagnosed with nonmetastatic, locally advanced MIBC from 2004 to 2013 within the National Cancer Database were included. Guideline-based treatment was defined as the receipt including one or more of the following treatment modalities: radical cystectomy (RC), neoadjuvant chemotherapy with RC, RC with adjuvant chemotherapy, and/or chemoradiation based on American Urological Association guidelines. Cox proportional hazards model of mortality estimated effects of GBT status, race/ethnicity, and the GBT-by-race/ethnicity interaction, adjusting for covariates.

RESULTS

Of the 54 910 MIBC individuals with 125 821 person-years of posttreatment observation (max = 11 years), 6.9% were Black, and 3.0% were Latino. Overall, 51.4%, 45.3%, and 48.5% of White, Black, and Latino individuals received GBT. Latino individuals had lower hazard of death compared to Black (HR 0.81, 95% CI 0.75-0.87) and White individuals (HR 0.92, 95% 0.86-0.98). With GBT, Latino and White individuals had similar outcomes (HR = 1.00, 95% 0.91-1.10) and both fared better than Black individuals (HR = 0.88, 95% 0.79-0.99 and HR = 0.88, 95% 0.83-0.94, respectively). Without GBT, Latino individuals fared better than White (HR = 0.85, 95% 0.77-0.93) and Black individuals (HR = 0.74, 95% 0.67-0.82) while White individuals fared better than Black individuals (HR = 0.87, 95% 0.83-0.92). Black individuals with GBT fared worse than Latinos without GBT (HR = 1.02, 95% 0.92-1.14), although not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

Low GBT levels demonstrated an "under-allocation" of GBT to those who needed it most-Black individuals. Interventions to improve GBT allocation may mitigate race-based survival differences observed in MIBC.

Association Between Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms and Frailty in Older Men Presenting for Urologic Care

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association between non-neurogenic lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and frailty among treatment-seeking older men.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study of male patients age 65 years and older presenting to an academic urology practice between December 2015 and March 2019. Men with cancer, neurologic disease, indwelling catheter, or continuous leakage were excluded. Participants completed a Timed-Up-and-Go-Test (TUGT) which was used to categorize men as fast (≤10 seconds), intermediate (11-14 seconds), or slow (≥15 seconds). Participants with the following diagnoses were identified using billing codes extracted from the electronic medical record: overactive bladder (OAB), benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), mixed OAB/BPH, or non-LUTS urologic condition. Multivariable associations were evaluated using multinomial logistic regression models adjusted for age, race, and body mass index.

RESULTS

Among 2206 men included in our sample, 64% were fast (mean TUGT time: 8.3 ± 1.2 seconds), 25% were intermediate (mean TUGT time: 12.0 ± 1.0 seconds), and 11% were slow (mean TUGT time: 18.5 ± 4.7 seconds). Subjects with slow TUGT times were more likely to be older, non-White, and have LUTS. Compared to non-LUTS conditions, OAB (odds ratio [OR] = 2.62, 95% CI 1.74, 3.93), BPH (OR = 1.70, 95% 1.14, 2.55), and mixed OAB/BPH (OR = 1.82, 95% 1.14, 2.92) were all associated with increased odds of slow TUGT time. LUTS diagnosis was not significantly associated with intermediate TUGT time.

CONCLUSION

LUTS diagnosis, particularly OAB, is associated with increased odds of slow TUGT time, a surrogate of frailty, compared to non-LUTS conditions. Frailty is common among older men with LUTS and should be considered during the initial urological evaluation.

The association between frailty and detrusor overactivity in older adults

OBJECTIVE

To explore the relationship between frailty, age, and detrusor overactivity (DO) in older adults presenting to an academic urology practice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study uses the University of California, San Francisco Geriatric Urology Database to examine all adults ages ≥65 years who underwent urodynamic testing from December 2015 to April 2019. All subjects had a timed up and go test (TUGT) as a measure of frailty and were categorized as fast (≤10 seconds), intermediate (11-14 seconds), or slow (≥15 seconds), corresponding to not frail, pre-frail, and frail, respectively. Urodynamic studies were reviewed for the presence of DO. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to examine the relationship between frailty, age, and the presence of DO.

RESULTS

In total, 549 older adults underwent urodynamics during the study period, and 48.5% had a study that demonstrated DO. Individuals with DO tended to be older (18.4% vs 11.0% were ≥80 years; P = .01) and more frail (19.5% vs 13.4% with TUGT ≥5 seconds; P < .01). Multivariate regression demonstrated that DO was associated with both pre-frail and frail TUGT times (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-3.4; P < .01 for TUGT 11-14 seconds, and aOR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.1-4.0; P = .02 for TUGT ≥15 seconds). Age was not found to be significantly associated with DO (P's > .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Frailty, not age, is associated with DO among older adults undergoing urodynamics. Further research on the role of frailty in the evaluation and management of older adults with DO is warranted to best serve the needs of this population.

Abstract D123: The intersection of race and delivery of guideline-based: How treatment disparities drive racial disparities in muscle-invasive bladder cancer

Objective For patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer, studies have shown black race is associated with 21% lower odds of guideline-based treatment (GBT) and differences in treatment explain 35% of observed black-white differences in survival. We aim to understand how the interaction between race/ethnicity and receipt of GBT drive within-race and between-race differences in survival for black, white, and latino patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Methods Using the National Cancer Database, we identified individuals diagnosed with cT2-4 muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) from 2004-2013. Cox regression models included random effects to accommodate intra-facility correlations of outcome response. Models were adjusted for race, age at diagnosis, gender, histology, clinical T and N stages, treatment (GBT vs nonGBT), Charslon comorbidity index, insurance, and facility type with inclusion of the GBT-by-race interaction effect. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported. P value of 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Of the 60,566 individuals identified, 90.1% were white, 6.9% black, and 3% latino. Most were 60 years or older (84.6%), had cT2 disease (76.4%), cNo/x (92.9%) and had urothelial carcinoma (88.6%). Nearly one-third were female (28.3%). Most were treated at an academic center (34.9%) or comprehensive cancer center (46.3%). Half (50.2%) received GBT. On MV models clustered by treatment facility, GBT was associated with increased survival (HR 0.76, 95% CI 0.72-0.80) compared to nonGBT when averaged across all race groups. GBT benefit was similar for black and white individuals (black, HR 0.71, 95% CI 0.65-0.77; white, HR 0.72, 95% CI 0.70-0.74) but latino individuals experienced less benefit (HR 0.85, 95% 0.74-0.97) compared to nonGBT. From the GBT-by-race interaction, the GBT effect was near equivalent for black race (HR 0.97, 95% CI 0.90-1.07) compared to white counterparts but stronger for both when compared to latino individuals (black, HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.71-0.97; white, HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.74-0.97). Black individuals who received GBT had worse survival compared to white (HR 1.12, 95% CI 1.05-1.20) and latino counterparts (HR 1.14, 95% CI 1.01-1.29). Of those with nonGBT, white (HR 1.20, 95% CI 1.09-1.32) and black individuals (HR 1.38, 95% CI 1.24-1.53) had worse survival compared to latino individuals. Lastly, mortality risk of black individuals with GBT was near equivalent to latino patients receiving nonGBT (HR 0.97, 95% CI 0.87-1.09). Conclusions The GBT effect was not uniform, with a 28-29% reduction in mortality risk experienced by white and black individuals but 15% reduction for latino counterparts. Our study illustrates how race-based treatment disparities influence survival outcomes and extend beyond black-white comparisons. Future efforts to improve the delivery of GBT, a factor directly impacted by urologic can providers, may mitigate the race-based survival differences observed in individuals with MIBC.

Citation Format: Sikai Song, Maxwell V Meng, Anne M Suskind, Sima P Porten, Samuel L Washington III, Steven Gregorich. The intersection of race and delivery of guideline-based: How treatment disparities drive racial disparities in muscle-invasive bladder cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2019 Sep 20-23; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl_2):Abstract nr D123.

Time Spent Away from Home in the Year Following High-Risk Cancer Surgery in Older Adults

OBJECTIVES

To understand where older adults spend time (at home, in the hospital, or in a nursing home) in the year following high-risk cancer surgery.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Medicare beneficiaries using data from Medicare Inpatient claims to ascertain hospital days and the Minimum Data Set to ascertain nursing home days.

PARTICIPANTS

Beneficiaries who underwent high-risk cancer surgery (cystectomy, pancreaticoduodenectomy, gastrectomy, or esophagectomy) were identified to determine cumulative time spent away from home in the year following surgery.

MEASUREMENTS

Adjusted percentages of time spent away from home (ie, days in a hospital or nursing home) were modeled for the year following surgery.

RESULTS

A total of 37 748 beneficiaries underwent high-risk cancer surgery during the study period, and 28.3% died within 1 year. Overall, beneficiaries spent 13.9 ± 26.2 days in the hospital (over 1.5 ± 2.0 hospital readmissions) and 37.2 ± 50.6 days in the nursing home (over 1.5 ± 1.0 admissions) in the year following surgery. Among beneficiaries who were alive and dead at 1 year, 18.5% and 30.1% of time was spent away from home, respectively. Beneficiaries who were initially discharged to a facility following surgery and died within 1 year spent 44.4% of their final year away from home.

CONCLUSION

Time spent away from home in the hospital and/or nursing home in the year following high-risk cancer surgery is substantial among Medicare beneficiaries. This information is crucial in counseling patients on postoperative expectations and may additionally influence preoperative decision making. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:505-510, 2020.

Advances in pharmacotherapy for the treatment of overactive bladder

Purpose of review

To present the current literature on the pharmacologic management of overactive bladder, including combination therapies, agents still in clinical development, and special considerations related to individuals with cognitive decline, frailty and cardiovascular risk.

Recent Findings

Combination therapy is shown to be more effective than monotherapy, without additional side effects. Preliminary studies on novel treatment methods, including new medications, as well was novel use of established medications, demonstrates improved efficacy with a favorable side effect profile. Investigation into new target pathways may be an area for future pharmacologic development. Special consideration should be given when prescribing anti-muscarinic medication in the frail adult population. Overactive bladder has been associated with frailty and anti-muscarinic medications have been associated with the worsening cognitive decline.

Summary

Combination therapy is a safe and effective alternative to patients with refractory overactive bladder. Caution should be taken in prescribing medications for the frail older adult, and alternative first- and third-line treatments should be considered. Future studies should involve long term data on safety and outcomes stratified by age with objective measurements of cognition and frailty.

The impact of frailty on treatment for overactive bladder in older adults

AIMS

To examine the impact of frailty on treatment outcomes for overactive bladder (OAB) in older adults starting pharmacotherapy, onabotulinumtoxinA, and sacral neuromodulation.

METHODS

This is a prospective study of men and women age ≥60 years starting pharmacotherapy, onabotulinumtoxinA, or sacral neuromodulation. Subjects were administered questionnaires at baseline and again at 1- and 3-months. Frailty was assessed at baseline using the timed up and go test (TUGT), whereby a TUGT time of ≥12 seconds was considered to be slow, or frail. Response to treatment was assessed using the overactive bladder symptom score (OABSS) and the OAB-q SF (both Bother and HRQOL subscales). Information on side effects/adverse events was also collected. Mixed effects linear modeling was used to model changes in outcomes over time both within and between groups.

RESULTS

A total of 45 subjects enrolled in the study, 40% (N = 18) of whom had a TUGT ≥12 seconds. Both TUGT groups demonstrated improvement in OAB symptoms over time and there were no statistically significant differences in these responses per group (all P-values >.05). Similar trends were found for both OAB-q SF Bother and OAB-q SF HRQOL questionnaire responses. Side effects and adverse events were not significantly different between groups (all P's >.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Adults ≥60 years of age starting second- and third-line treatments for OAB, regardless of TUGT time, demonstrated improvement in OAB symptoms at 3 months. These findings suggest that frail older adults may receive comparable benefit and similar rates of side effects compared with less frail older individuals.

The Impact of Frailty on Artificial Urinary Sphincter Placement and Removal Procedures

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether frailty is associated with increased odds of 30-day surgical complications among men undergoing both artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) placement and removal procedures and to determine whether frailty was associated with increased odds of having an AUS removal procedure.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study of men undergoing AUS placement and removal procedures using data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) from 2006 to 2013. Frailty was quantified using the NSQIP-FI (frailty index) and was applied to logistic regression models predicting 30-day complications (overall, major, and minor) and the odds of having an AUS removal procedure (over an AUS placement procedure).

RESULTS

We identified a total of 624 and 147 men undergoing AUS placement and removal procedures, respectively. NSQIP-FI of ≥0.27, but not age, was associated with major complications (aOR 3.5, 95% confidence interval 1.2-9.9), while age ≥85 years, but not NSQIP-FI, was associated with minor complications (aOR 7.9, 95% confidence interval 1.4-45.6). Men undergoing AUS removal procedures tended to be more frail compared to men undergoing AUS placement procedures (12.9% vs 6.1% had NSQIP-FI of ≥0.27, P<.01).

CONCLUSION

Men undergoing AUS removal procedures are, on average, more frail compared to men undergoing AUS placement procedures. Frailty is associated with increased odds of major complications and with having an AUS removal procedure. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating measures of frailty, instead of age alone, into the perioperative decision-making process for adults considering these types of procedures.

The Association Between Race and Frailty in Older Adults Presenting to a Nononcologic Urology Practice

OBJECTIVE

To explore whether there is an association between nonwhite race and frailty among older adults presenting to an academic nononcologic urology practice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a prospective study of individuals ages ≥65years presenting to a nononcologic urology practice between December 2015 and November 2016. All individuals had a Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT, where a slower TUGT time of ≥15 seconds is suggestive of frailty. TUGT times, race (white vs nonwhite), and other clinical data were extracted from the electronic medical record using direct queries. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify the association between race and slower TUGT times while adjusting for age, gender, number of medications, body mass index, and number of urologic diagnoses.

RESULTS

Among the 1715 individuals in our cohort, 33.9% were of nonwhite race and 15.3% had TUGT ≥15 seconds. A higher percentage of nonwhite individuals had TUGT times ≥15 seconds compared to white individuals (23.6% vs 11.1%, P <.01). TUGT times ≥15 seconds were significantly associated with nonwhite race after adjusting for clinical factors (adjusted odds ratio 2.5, 95% confidence interval 1.8-3.3).

CONCLUSION

Among older adults presenting to an academic nononcologic urology practice, nonwhite race was associated with increased odds of frailty. A greater understanding of the relationship between race and frailty is needed to better address the needs of this vulnerable population.

Factors Associated with Regional Adoption of Ureteroscopy in California from 2005 to 2016

PURPOSE

To explore regional adoption of ureteroscopy (URS) over extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) in the state of California (CA) and to identify factors associated with this adoption over time.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We used the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) public data to identify URS and SWL procedures performed for renal and ureteral stones from 2005 to 2016. The level of analysis was the region wherein each procedure was performed, defined by the 19 CA labor market regions. OSHPD data were supplemented with the Area Health Resource File to provide information on regional characteristics. Generalized linear regression was used to determine procedural rates adjusted for age, gender and race. Choropleth time series maps were used to illustrate adoption of URS by region over time.

RESULTS

A total of 328,795 URS and SWL procedures were identified from 2005 to 2016. The number of URS procedures surpassed the number of SWL procedures in 2011. Fourteen regions became URS predominant by 2016 and were characterized as having a higher per capita income, higher percentages with a college education and lower percentage of female heads-of-household (all p-values <0.05). A higher percentage of patients in these regions were male and had private or Medicare insurance (p = 0.03 for both).

CONCLUSIONS

From 2005 to 2016, most CA regions adopted URS as the primary renal and ureteral stone management strategy. These regions demonstrated characteristics of higher socioeconomic status compared to regions that remained SWL predominant. A better understanding of such differences in practice patterns will allow urologists to better negotiate for the capital expenditures required to conform to evolving standards of care and allow patients the ability to make more informed decisions on where they receive care.

Mortality and Functional Outcomes After Minor Urological Surgery in Nursing Home Residents: A National Study

OBJECTIVES

To determine outcomes of minor urological surgery in frail older adults.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

U.S. nursing homes (NHs).

PARTICIPANTS

NH residents aged 65 and older undergoing minor inpatient urological surgery (cystoscopy, bladder biopsy, transurethral resection of bladder tumor, prostate biopsy, transurethral resection of prostate, removal of ureteral obstruction, suprapubic tube placement) in the United States between 2004 and 2012 (N=34,605).

MEASUREMENTS

One-year mortality and changes in functional status before and after surgery using the Minimum Data Set Activity of Daily Living (MDS-ADL) summary scale.

RESULTS

Overall 1-year mortality was 50%, and on average, residents had a 1.9-point worsening in their MDS-ADL score at 1 year, whereas the most highly functional residents (baseline quartile of MDS-ADL scores (0-12)) had a 4.7-point worsening in their MDS-ADL scores at 1 year. Functional decline in residents 1 year after surgery was associated with decline in function in the 6 months before surgery (adjusted hazard ratio (aH)=2.39, 95% confidence interval (CI)=2.29-2.49), emergency procedures (aHR=1.37, 95% CI=1.31-1.43), older age (≥85 vs 65-74, aHR=1.17, 95% CI=1.11-1.23), and baseline cognitive impairment (aHR=1.15, 95% CI=1.11-1.20).

CONCLUSION

Despite the low complexity of minor urological procedures, NH residents experience high mortality and many demonstrate sustained functional decline up to 1-year postoperatively.

Overactive Bladder Is Strongly Associated With Frailty in Older Individuals

OBJECTIVE

To understand the relationship between age, frailty, and overactive bladder (OAB).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a prospective study of individuals age ≥65 years presenting to an academic urology practice between December 2015 and July 2016. All patients had a Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT), a parsimonious measure of frailty, on intake, and were thereby categorized as fast (≤10 seconds), intermediate (11-14 seconds), and slow (≥15 seconds). The TUGT and other clinical data were abstracted from the electronic medical record using direct queries. Logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between frailty and the diagnosis of OAB, adjusting for age, gender, and race.

RESULTS

Our cohort included 201 individuals with and 1162 individuals without OAB. Individuals with OAB had slower TUGTs (13.7 ± 7.9 seconds) than their non-OAB counterparts (10.9 ± 5.2 seconds), P <.0001, with 32.3% and 11.0% of OAB and non-OAB individuals being categorized as slow, or frail. In multivariable analysis, slower TUGT was a significant predictor of OAB (adjusted odds ratio: 3.0; 95% confidence interval: 2.0-4.8). Age was not independently associated with this diagnosis (P values >.05 for each age group).

CONCLUSION

Patients with OAB are statistically significantly frailer than individuals seeking care for other non-oncologic urologic diagnoses. Frailty, when adjusted for age, race, and gender, is a statistically significant predictor of OAB. Furthermore, frailty should be considered when caring for older patients with OAB, and OAB should be assessed when caring for frail older patients.

The Timed Up and Go Test as a Measure of Frailty in Urologic Practice

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the prevalence of frailty, a known predictor of poor outcomes, among patients presenting to an academic nononcologic urology practice and to examine whether frailty differs among patients who did and did not undergo urologic surgery.

METHODS

The Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT), a parsimonious measure of frailty, was administered to patients ages ≥65. The TUGT, demographic data, urologic diagnoses, and procedural history were abstracted from the medical record into a prospective database. TUGT times were categorized as nonfrail (≤10 seconds), prefrail (11-14 seconds), and frail (≥15 seconds). These times were evaluated across age and urologic diagnoses and compared between patients who did and did not undergo urologic surgery using chi-square and t tests.

RESULTS

The TUGT was recorded for 78.9% of patient visits from December 2015 to May 2016. For 1089 patients, average age was 73.3 ± 6.3 years; average TUGT time was 11.6 ± 6.0 seconds; 30.0% were categorized as prefrail and 15.2% as frail. TUGT times increased with age, with 56.9% of patients age 86 and over categorized as frail. Times varied across diagnoses (highest average TUGT was 14.3 ± 11.9 seconds for patients with urinary tract infections); however, no difference existed between patients who did and did not undergo surgery (P = .94).

CONCLUSION

Among our population, prefrailty and frailty were common, TUGT times increased with age and varied by urologic diagnosis, but did not differ between patients who did and did not undergo urologic surgery, presenting an opportunity to consider frailty in preoperative surgical decision making.

The Value of Urodynamics in an Academic Specialty Referral Practice

OBJECTIVE

To describe and evaluate the use of urodynamics (UDS) studies for all indications in an academic specialty referral urology practice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a prospective questionnaire-based study wherein clinicians completed a pre- and post-UDS questionnaire on each UDS that they ordered for all clinical indications between May 2013 and August 2014. Questions pertained to patient demographics and history, the clinical indication for the UDS, the clinician's pre- and post-UDS clinical impressions, and changes in post-UDS management plans. Pre- and post-UDS diagnoses were compared using the McNemar test.

RESULTS

Clinicians evaluated a total of 285 UDS studies during the study period. The average age of study participants was 56.0 (±16.4) years, 59.5% were female, and 29.3% had a neurologic diagnosis. The most common indication for performing UDS was to discern the predominant type of urinary incontinence (stress vs urgency) in patients with mixed incontinence symptoms (38.5%) and to assess the safety of the bladder during filling (38.2%). UDS statistically significantly changed the ordering clinician's clinical impression of the patient's lower urinary tract diagnosis for stress urinary incontinence and for urgency and urgency urinary incontinence (both had P values of <.05). Fluoroscopy was found to be helpful in 29.5% of urodynamic studies, and clinicians reported that UDS changed their treatment plans in 42.5% of the studies, most commonly pertaining to changes related to surgery (35.0%).

CONCLUSION

Overall, UDS was a clinically useful tool that altered the clinical impression and treatment plan in a large percentage of carefully selected patients.

The Aging Overactive Bladder: A Review of Aging-Related Changes from the Brain to the Bladder

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To understand the current literature on age-related neural and detrusor changes associated with overactive bladder symptoms.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have unveiled an age-related decrease in the neural control of continence, represented in the insula, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and prefrontal cortex (PFC). Older individuals with overactive bladder symptoms also demonstrate heightened activation of the ACC with low volumes, representing increased bladder sensitivity or sense of urgency. At the level of the bladder, age-related changes in the urothelium, neurotransmitters/receptors (both muscarinic and purinergic), and inflammation [including nerve growth factor (NGF), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and oxidative stress] are also associated with overactive bladder.

SUMMARY

Overactive bladder among older adults is a complex condition incorporating physiologic age-related changes from the brain to the bladder and beyond.

AUA White Paper on Nonneurogenic Chronic Urinary Retention: Consensus Definition, Treatment Algorithm, and Outcome End Points

PURPOSE

The AUA (American Urological Association) QIPS (Quality Improvement and Patient Safety) committee created a white paper on the diagnosis and management of nonneurogenic chronic urinary retention.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Recommendations for the white paper were based on a review of the literature and consensus expert opinion from the workgroup.

RESULTS

The workgroup defined nonneurogenic chronic urinary retention as an elevated post-void residual of greater than 300 mL that persisted for at least 6 months and documented on 2 or more separate occasions. It is proposed that chronic urinary retention should be categorized by risk (high vs low) and symptomatology (symptomatic versus asymptomatic). High risk chronic urinary retention was defined as hydronephrosis on imaging, stage 3 chronic kidney disease or recurrent culture proven urinary tract infection or urosepsis. Symptomatic chronic urinary retention was defined as subjectively moderate to severe urinary symptoms impacting quality of life and/or a recent history of catheterization. A treatment algorithm was developed predicated on stratifying patients with chronic urinary retention first by risk and then by symptoms. The proposed 4 primary outcomes that should be assessed to determine effectiveness of retention treatment are 1) symptom improvement, 2) risk reduction, 3) successful trial of voiding without catheterization, and 4) stability of symptoms and risk over time.

CONCLUSIONS

Defining and categorizing nonneurogenic chronic urinary retention, creating a treatment algorithm and proposing treatment end points will hopefully spur comparative research that will ultimately lead to a better understanding of this challenging condition.

Urinary Incontinence in Older Women: The Role of Body Composition and Muscle Strength: From the Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate prospective relationships between body composition and muscle strength with predominantly stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) in older women.

DESIGN

Prospective community-dwelling observational cohort study (Health, Aging, and Body Composition study).

PARTICIPANTS

Women initially aged 70 to 79 recruited from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Memphis, Tennessee (N = 1,475).

MEASUREMENTS

Urinary incontinence was assessed using structured questionnaires. Body mass index (BMI), grip strength, quadriceps torque, and walking speed were assessed using physical examination and performance testing. Appendicular lean body mass (ALM) and whole-body fat mass were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

RESULTS

At baseline, 212 (14%) women reported at least monthly predominantly SUI and 233 (16%) at least monthly predominantly UUI. At 3 years, of 1,137 women, 164 (14%) had new or persistent SUI, and 320 (28%) had new or persistent UUI. Women had greater odds of new or persistent SUI if they demonstrated a 5% or greater decrease in grip strength, (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.60, P = .047) and lower odds of new or persistent SUI if they demonstrated a 5% or greater decrease in BMI (AOR = 0.46, P = .01), a 5% or greater increase in ALM corrected for BMI (AOR = 0.17, P = .004), or a 5% or greater decrease in fat mass (AOR = 0.53, P = .01). Only a 5% or greater increase in walking speed was associated with new or persistent UUI over 3 years (AOR = 1.54, P = .04).

CONCLUSION

In women aged 70 and older, changes in body composition and grip strength were associated with changes in SUI frequency over time. In contrast, changes in these factors did not influence UUI. Findings suggest that optimization of body composition and muscle strength is more likely to modify risk of SUI than of UUI in older women.

Functional Outcomes After Transurethral Resection of the Prostate in Nursing Home Residents

OBJECTIVES

To understand outcomes of transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) or transurethral laser incision of the prostate (TULIP) for the treatment of bladder outlet obstruction in men with high levels of functional dependence, which are poorly understood.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

U.S. nursing homes (NHs).

PARTICIPANTS

Male NH residents aged 65 and older who underwent TURP or TULIP in the United States between 2005 and 2008 (N = 2,869).

MEASUREMENTS

Changes in activities of daily living (ADLs), Foley catheter status, and survival up to 12 months after surgery were examined. Multivariate regression was used to determine risk of having a Foley catheter 1 year after surgery.

RESULTS

Sixty-one percent of the cohort had a Foley catheter before the procedure. Of men with a Foley catheter at baseline, 64% had a Foley catheter, 4% had no Foley catheter, and 32% had died by 1-year after the procedure. Having a Foley catheter at baseline (risk ratio (RR) = 1.39, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.29-1.50) and poor baseline functional status (RR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.18-1.52 for individuals in the worst quartile of function) were associated with greater risk of having a Foley catheter at 1-year.

CONCLUSION

Poor baseline functional status and having a Foley catheter preoperatively were associated with greater risk of TURP or TULIP failure, as measured by the presence of a Foley catheter at 1 year. Preoperative measurement of ADLs may aid in surgical decision-making in this population.

Preoperative Frailty Is Associated With Discharge to Skilled or Assisted Living Facilities After Urologic Procedures of Varying Complexity

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association between frailty and postoperative discharge destination after different types of commonly performed urologic procedures in older patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Using data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) from 2011 to 2013, we identified commonly performed inpatient urologic procedures among patients aged 65 and older. We then assessed the effect of frailty, measured by the NSQIP Frailty Index (NSQIP-FI), on discharge to a skilled or assisted living facility using logistic regression and assessed the heterogeneity of this effect across procedures using 2-level random effects modeling.

RESULTS

Overall, 1144 out of 20,794 (5.5%) urologic cases, representing 19 different procedures, resulted in discharge to a skilled or assisted living facility. Cystectomy and large transurethral resection of bladder tumor had the highest percentage (16.3%). Twenty-five percent of patients undergoing urology procedures were frail (NSQIP-FI 0.18+), including 9.8% of patients discharged to a facility. Even after adjustment for year, age, race, type of anesthesia, smoking status, recent weight loss, and whether or not the procedure was elective, frailty was strongly associated with discharge to a facility (adjusted odds ratio 3.1 [96% confidence interval 2.5, 3.8] for NSQIP-FI 0.18+ compared to NSQIP FI 0). This finding was consistent across most procedures of varying complexity with an overall effect of odds ratio 1.6 (95% confidence interval 1.5, 2.0).

CONCLUSION

Increasing frailty is associated with discharge to a skilled or assisted living facility across most inpatient urologic procedures evaluated, regardless of complexity. This information is important for preoperative counseling with patients undergoing urologic surgery.