Screening and Treating Urinary Incontinence in Primary Care: A Missed Opportunity

More than 60% of adult women in the United States have urinary incontinence (UI), with the prevalence increasing to over 80% in women over age 65. Despite its high prevalence, most patients do not seek care and few clinicians screen for UI. The Medicare Health Outcomes Survey queries patients about satisfaction with their provider's discussion and management of UI, but formal recommendations about screening, diagnosis, and treatment are lacking. This review presents a practical algorithm for primary care providers to incorporate management of UI into routine preventive care for women, and outlines UI prevalence, risk factors, screening, and non-surgical treatment options.

Is Surgical Treatment for Obesity Able to Cure Urinary Incontinence in Women?-A Prospective Single-Center Study

There is enough evidence to support weight loss in order to improve urinary incontinence. Nevertheless, weight loss and maintaining a lower weight are not easy to achieve in the general population. Our study aims to evaluate whether bariatric surgery has a positive effect on the symptoms of urinary incontinence in female patients. We performed a prospective study on obese female patients before and after bariatric surgery, over a period of 9 years. Patients with a BMI ≥ 33 kg/m2 were included if they described involuntary loss of urine and no previous surgery for urinary incontinence was performed. The patients underwent laparoscopic surgery, either gastric sleeve, bypass or banding, performed by four surgeons in our hospital. The type of incontinence was not assessed at the initial visit carried out by the surgeon. All patients who declared being incontinent were referred to the urologist where they received the ICIQ-UI-SF questionnaire before their bariatric surgery and during follow -up visits. The sum of points obtained at questions 3, 4 and 5 was used to evaluate the severity of incontinence, as well as the impact on the quality of life. Our evaluation collected data on age, time since onset of symptoms, pad usage, number and type of deliveries, concomitant conditions and medications. The type of incontinence was assessed by the urologist before bariatric surgery as urge, stress or mixed incontinence. At follow-up visits, the patients were also asked to fill out a 10-point VAS questionnaire evaluating their perception on the evolution of incontinence symptoms. Data were analyzed using t-test statistical analysis. Our objective defined changes in incontinence as cure, improved, no change and worse. We included 54 women from whom initial data and at least 18 months of follow-up were available. We observed that about 50% of all women undergoing bariatric surgery have some degree of urinary incontinence. The ICIQ score improved from 13.31 ± 5.18 before surgery to 8.30 ± 4.49 points after surgery (p < 0.0001). Before surgery, 38 patients (70%) described severe incontinence compared to only 20 patients (37%) after surgery. A total of 16 women (31%) reported complete cure of urinary incontinence after bariatric surgery. Data from the VAS questionnaire show improvement in 46 cases (85%). Pad usage improved from 7.04 ± 2.79 to 3.42 ± 2.77 (p < 0.001) per day. The number of patients using more than one pad per day decreased from 35 (65%) to 9 (17%). The type of incontinence did not seem to be relevant, but our sample size was too small to lead to statistically significant results. There was no impact on the outcome of incontinence of number/type of delivery, age or BMI. Our data show that bariatric surgery is able to cure urinary incontinence in one of three obese women. A significant improvement was obtained in more than two-thirds of the patients, regardless of the type of incontinence. For an obese female with urinary incontinence, treatment for obesity should prevail and incontinence should be treated only if symptoms remain.

Safety, tolerability and short-term efficacy of transvaginal fractional bipolar radiofrequency therapy for symptoms of stress and or mixed incontinence in conjunction with genitourinary syndrome of menopause

INTRODUCTION

Radiofrequency (RF) energy application stimulates collagen and elastin remodeling to restore the elasticity, and moisture of the superficial vaginal mucosa. This is the first study to report on the use of microneedling to deliver RF energy to the vaginal canal. Microneedling increases the response of the collagen contraction and neocollagenesis in deeper layers of tissue, thus increasing the support to the surface. The novel intravaginal microneedling device used in this study allows penetration of the needles to 1, 2, or 3 mm.

OBJECTIVE

A prospective study to evaluate the safety and short-term outcome of a single fractional RF treatment of the vaginal canal in a series of women with coexistent stress or mixed incontinence (MUI) and genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM).

METHODS

Twenty women who had symptoms of SUI and or MUI in conjunction with GSM were given a single vaginal treatment that consisted of fractional bipolar RF energy using the EmpowerRF platform with the Morpheus8V applicator (InMode). RF energy was delivered into the vaginal walls via 24 microneedles, at a depth of 1, 2, and 3 mm. Outcomes were evaluated by "cough" stress test, questionnaires (MESA SI, MESA UI, iQoL, UDI-6) and evaluation of vaginal tissue through the VHI scale at 1-, 3-, and 6-months post-treatment compared to baseline. Biopsies were performed at baseline and 3-months on five patients for histological reference and tissue evaluation.

RESULTS

Eight out of eight outcomes measured from baseline to 6-months post-treatment showed improvement. The parameters scored in the questionnaires including frequency, urgency, nocturia, urge incontinence, and stress incontinence showed significant improvement in all areas at the 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-up sessions compared to baseline.

CONCLUSIONS

The results showed evidence that fractional RF energy delivered vaginally is safe, well tolerated, and provide short term improvement of SUI and or MUI in conjunction with GSM.

Artificially sweetened beverages and urinary incontinence-a secondary analysis of the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine if higher artificially sweetened beverage intake is associated with higher prevalence of urinary incontinence symptoms.

METHODS

We conducted a secondary analysis of data from the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study. Our analytic cohort included 80,388 women. Participants who answered questions about beverage consumption and urinary incontinence symptoms at a 3-year follow-up visit were included. Demographic characteristics were compared between three groups of beverage consumers: never to less than one serving per week, one to six servings per week, and greater than or equal to one serving per day. Multivariable logistic regression models were constructed to estimate odds and type of urinary incontinence and adjust for potential confounders.

RESULTS

Most participants (64%) were rare consumers of artificially sweetened beverages, with 13% ( n = 10,494) consuming greater than or equal to 1 serving per day. The unadjusted odds of reporting urinary incontinence were 10% to 12% higher in women consuming one to six servings per week (odds ratio [OR], 1.10; 95% CI, 1.06-1.14) or greater than or equal to one serving per day (OR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.07-1.18) versus never to less than one serving per week. In multivariable analyses, women consuming greater than or equal to one serving per day (ref: never to <1 serving/wk) had 10% higher odds of reporting mixed urinary incontinence (OR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.02-1.19). There were no significant differences for stress or urgency urinary incontinence symptoms between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

When compared to never to less than one serving per week, women consuming greater than or equal to one serving per day of artificially sweetened beverages had 10% greater odds of reporting mixed urinary incontinence after adjustments. Amount of artificially sweetened beverage consumption was not associated with stress or urgency urinary incontinence symptoms.

Paper towel test as independently self-administered to quantify cough-related urine loss: Compliance and comparisons with survey-only data in SWAN

AIMS

The epidemiologic Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN) includes urinary incontinence (UI) questionnaire items. We introduced an independently self-administered paper towel test (PTT-ISA; invention disclosure #2021-347) to objectively demonstrate UI. Aims were to determine: (1) PTT-ISA compliance and (2) relationship to questionnaire results.

METHODS

276 community women were invited to complete both SWAN questionnaire and PTT-ISA. For PTT-ISA, a woman holds a trifold brown paper towel against her perineum while coughing hard three times. She checks the towel for wetness and compares it with pictorial showing wetted area gradations (dry towel through >6 ml/saturated). She then selects the best photo match for her towel. A newly conceptualized variable constructed as PTT-ISA plus questionnaire results was formed.

RESULTS

Of 276 women, noncompliance with PTT-ISA was 2.2% (6 women). Four others (1.5%) were missing questionnaires. For the remaining 266 women, conceptual cohesiveness between questionnaire-only and PTT-ISA + questionnaire was demonstrated in 165 (62.0%). Lack of cohesiveness occurred in 101 (38.9%), including 41 women who said "no" to the questionnaire item indicative of stress UI and had leakage on PTT-ISA; leakage degree varied across the full pictorial spectrum from drops to saturated.

CONCLUSION

PTT-ISA demonstrates high compliance, with rate comparable to survey compliance. It is a novel measure for objective sign of urine loss when independently self-administered by community women outside of a clinic environment. Further research comparing PTT-ISA with clinician-observed cough test is warranted. As independently self-administered, PTT-ISA is simple, noninvasive, inexpensive, and an acceptable test that adds value to otherwise survey-dependent research.

Do Drugs Work for ΟΑΒ Following Prostate Cancer Surgery

There is evidence that post-radical prostatectomy (post-RP) incontinence is not just the insufficiency of the external urethral sphincter mechanism. Up to a third of men with post-RP incontinence suffer from bladder dysfunction, namely overactive bladder (OAB). OAB is a complex symptom syndrome with poorly defined pathophysiology. It causes a significant burden to patients, negatively affects the quality of their life and its management might be difficult and challenging. The incidence of post-RP OAB ranges from 15.2 to 37.8%. The aetiology is multifactorial and includes the partial decentralization of the bladder, the detrusor underactivity, the bladder outlet obstruction and the co-existence with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Post-RP SUI may lead to defunctionalized bladder and activation of urethrovesical reflex which further deteriorate post-RP continence. The diagnostic work-up of men with post-RP OAB should aim to identify potential aetiologic factors and personalize the treatment accordingly. Until now, there is no robust data from literature with regards to post-RP OAB management. It seems that anticholinergics and PDE5 inhibitors are effective in improving OAB parameters.

Self-Perceived Improvement in Bladder Health After Viewing a Novel Tutorial on Knack Use: A Randomized Controlled Trial Pilot Study

Purpose: To test a novel bladder health tutorial on use of the Knack for overcoming bladder control challenges. The Knack-tutorial is a self-administered vignette-based instructional program on preempting bladder challenges in daily life (urgency, stress-leakage, or urge-leakage) through anticipatory, well-timed pelvic floor muscle contraction at the moment of challenge. Materials and Methods: This is a randomized controlled trial pilot test of 108 women with stress or mixed urinary incontinence. The Knack-tutorial group saw a 15-minute slide show with 10 vignettes portraying use of the Knack in daily life. The slide show format used inserted narrated videos, dubbed and animation enhanced pictures and cartoons, and automatic slide advancement. A control group saw a similarly constructed slide show on incorporating good diet/exercise habits. Outcomes were self-perceived improvement (yes/no, and as 0%-100%) 1 month after viewing the tutorial. Results: We enrolled 123 women, randomizing 64 to Knack-tutorial group and 59 to diet/exercise tutorial group. Eleven and one participant, respectively, did not return. Three did not fill out the self-perceived improvement report. Significant improvement was reported by 71% in the Knack-tutorial group compared to 25% in the diet/exercise group (p < 0.001). Self-perceived improvement was 21%-22% higher (Model I Est: 21.01, SE: 4.25, p < 0.001) in the Knack-tutorial group. Conclusions: An electronic tutorial viewed independent of a health care provider with vignettes showing Knack application to manage the everyday bladder challenges women face shows benefit of a magnitude that warrants more widespread use and rigorous testing. A professional remake of the intervention is now available (www.myconfidentbladder.com).

The Current Evidence on the Association Between the Urinary Microbiome and Urinary Incontinence in Women

Urinary incontinence (UI) is a burdensome condition with high prevalence in middle-aged to older women and an unclear etiology. Advances in our understanding of host-microbe interactions in the urogenital tract have stimulated interest in the urinary microbiome. DNA sequencing and enhanced urine culture suggest that similarly to other mucosal sites, the urinary bladder of healthy individuals harbors resident microbial communities that may play distinct roles in bladder function. This review focused on the urobiome (expanded quantitative urine culture-based or genomic sequencing-based urinary microbiome) associated with different subtypes of UI, including stress, urgency and mixed urinary incontinence, and related syndromes, such as interstitial cystitis and overactive bladder in women, contrasted to urinary tract infections. Furthermore, we examined clinical evidence for the association of the urinary microbiome with responses to pharmacotherapy for amelioration of UI symptoms. Although published studies are still relatively limited in number, study design and sample size, cumulative evidence suggests that certain Lactobacillus species may play a role in maintaining a healthy bladder milieu. Higher bacterial diversity in the absence of Lactobacillus dominance was associated with urgency UI and resistance to anticholinergic treatment for this condition. UI may also facilitate the persistence of uropathogens following antibiotic treatment, which in turn can alter the commensal/potentially beneficial microbial communities. Risk factors of UI, including age, menopausal status, sex steroid hormones, and body mass index may also impact the urinary microbiome. However, it is yet unclear whether the effects of these risks factors on UI are mediated by urinary host-microbe interactions and a mechanistic link with the female urogenital microbiome is still to be established. Strategies for future research are suggested.

An Approach to Urinary Incontinence for Dermatologists

Incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD) is a condition often encountered by dermatologists. IAD is an inflammatory skin condition secondary to prolonged urine exposure-it is a dermatologic sequela of urinary incontinence. Incontinence should not be dismissed simply as an age-related disorder; rather, it is due to a number of pathologic conditions that can be either reversible or manageable. It is thus critical to identify and treat the underlying causes of urinary incontinence. Clinical management of this common medical issue restores normality to patients' lives while also preventing future dermatologic complications. In this article, we aim to provide dermatologists with an overview of IAD and an approach to the diagnosis and initial management of urinary incontinence.

Efficacy of Transurethral Vesical Deafferentation with Mid-Urethral Sling Operation for Female Mixed Urinary Incontinence: Preliminary Results

OBJECTIVES

In female patients with mixed urinary incontinence (MUI), a mid-urethral sling operation (MUS) is an effective treatment for stress urinary incontinence (SUI), but urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) frequently persists. We developed a novel transurethral vesical deafferentation procedure and assessed its efficacy in these patients.

METHODS

From December 2009 to December 2012, 41 female patients with MUI were enrolled prospectively. After baseline evaluation including urodynamic study and symptom questionnaires (Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS) and International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire - Overactive Bladder [ICIQ-OAB]), patients in the study group underwent both the deafferentation procedure and MUS, and those in the control group underwent MUS alone. The outcome was assessed 3 months after the operation by subjective assessment of SUI and OABSS.

RESULTS

At 3 months, the treatment response rate of UUI was significantly higher in the study group than in the control group; UUI was improved in 80 and 57.1% of patients, respectively. SUI was cured in most patients. There were no serious complications, such as voiding symptom and urinary retention.

CONCLUSIONS

The transurethral vesical deafferentation procedure combined with MUS is effective for the treatment of MUI. The procedure is simple, safe and efficacious in treating urgency and UUI without affecting voiding function.

Two-year follow-up of an open-label multicenter study of polyacrylamide hydrogel (Bulkamid®) for female stress and stress-predominant mixed incontinence

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

Polyacrylamide hydrogel (PAHG, Bulkamid®) is a promising urethral bulking agent. This article presents the 2-year follow-up results of a multicenter study of PAHG injections for treating stress and stress-predominant mixed urinary incontinence.

METHODS

Submucosal injection of PAHG was performed in 135 women with urinary incontinence, with subjective and objective assessment of the efficacy and safety 24 months postinjection.

RESULTS

At 24 months, the subjective responder rate was 64 % (a statistically non-significant reduction from 67 % at 12 months). The decreased number of incontinence episodes and urine leakage were maintained compared with the result from the 12-month evaluations, as were objective result rates and quality of life data. No safety issues occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

PAHG is an effective and safe treatment option for women with stress-predominant mixed urinary incontinence, with maintained medium-term responder rates.

Treatment of mixed urinary incontinence

INTRODUCTION

Mixed urinary incontinence (MUI) is a prevalent condition and imposes a significant impact on a woman's quality of life. Treatment is often challenging, as a single modality may be inadequate for alleviating both the urge and stress component.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A MEDLINE search was conducted regarding English-language literature pertaining to the pathophysiology, diagnosis of, and treatment for MUI. Non-English language articles were considered if they could be translated into English using GOOGLE translator.

RESULTS

The identification of an ideal single treatment has also been made more challenging by the poor characterization of the pathophysiology of MUI. Behavioral and lifestyle modification, as well as pelvic floor muscle therapy, should be considered first-line options for all women with MUI. Treatment of the urge component with anti-muscarinics is effective; however the stress component is likely to persist after therapy. Anti-incontinence surgery may have a positive impact on both the stress and urge components of MUI, with emerging evidence suggesting that transobturator MUS may be associated with lower rates of de novo and persistent urge component compared to other procedures. The presence of concomitant, preoperative detrusor overactivity has not been consistently associated with postoperative outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

The optimum treatment of MUI may often require multiple treatment modalities. While surgery may have a positive impact on both the urge and stress component, its implementation should be approached with caution and patients should be carefully selected. Detailed informed consent in women with MUI cannot be overstated.

Longitudinal trends with improvement in quality of life after TVT, TVT O and Burch colposuspension procedures

BACKGROUND

Comparison of the quality of life (QoL) trends after TVT, TVT O and Burch colposuspension (BCS) procedures and comparison of long-term subjective and objective outcomes.

MATERIAL/METHODS

The study included 215 women who underwent a TVT, TVT O or BCS procedure. We monitored QoL after each procedure and the effect of complications on the QoL as assessed by the IQOL questionnaire over a 3-year period.

RESULTS

The study was completed by 74.5% of women after TVT, 74.5% after TVT O, and 65.2% after BCS procedure. In the long-term, the QoL improved from 46.9 to 88.7 and remained stable after BCS; after TVT and TVT O, it declined, but only after TVT O was the decline statistically significant compared to BCS. The IQOL for women with post-operative complications has a clear descending tendency. The effect of the complications is highly significant (p<0.001). Only the OAB complication had a statistically significant effect on QoL p<0.001. Preexistent OAB does not negatively affect postoperative results of anti-incontinence surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

There was a statistically significant decline with the longitudinal values of IQOL with TVT O, but not with TVT or BCS. Anti-incontinence operations significantly improve quality of life for women with MI, but compared to the SI group, the quality of life is worse when measured at a longer time interval after the operation. Anti-incontinence operations significantly improve quality of life, and the difference in preoperative status in the long-term follow-up is demonstrable.

Mixed incontinence: comparing definitions in non-surgical patients

PURPOSE

We aimed to explore operational definitions of mixed urinary incontinence (MUI) for use in incontinence outcomes research for non-surgical patient populations.

METHODS

A secondary analysis of women with urge incontinence or urge predominant MUI enrolled in the Urinary Incontinence Treatment Network BE-DRI randomized clinical trial was performed. Subjects were characterized at baseline for urinary incontinence severity and incontinence subtype (stress or urge) using the Medical, Epidemiologic, and Social Aspects of Aging (MESA) questionnaire, the Urogenital Distress Inventory, and a 7-day urinary diary. Various different definitions of MUI, ranging from low to high threshold, were created using a combination of these baseline incontinence measures. Prevalence of MUI based on each definition was described and compared to treatment response. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the association between the study outcomes and the different definitions of MUI.

RESULTS

The 307 participants in the BE-DRI study had a mean age of 56.9 (± 13.9) years with a mean total MESA score of 21.7 (± 8.9) and a mean total UDI score of 120.5 (± 49.6). The proportion of women diagnosed with MUI varied significantly by definition ranging from 63.5% to 96.4%. Low threshold symptom-based definitions resulted in nearly universal diagnosis of MUI. No strict cut-off value for these baseline measures was identified to predict clinical outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Current MUI definitions do not adequately categorize clinically relevant UI subgroups. For research purposes we believe it necessary to describe the severity of each incontinence subtype separately in subjects with MUI.

Antimuscarinic therapy for the treatment of mixed incontinence

Mixed urinary incontinence, the combination of stress incontinence and urge incontinence, affects millions of Americans, significantly impacting their quality of life. Treatment of mixed incontinence is a therapeutic challenge, and the debate over whether patients are best managed initially with medication or surgery is ongoing. The literature supports the efficacy of both antimuscarinic therapy and surgery for the treatment of mixed incontinence, but patient selection likely influences treatment outcome. Following is a literature review that critically evaluates the efficacy of antimuscarinic agents for the treatment of mixed incontinence and addresses some of the controversial issues regarding surgical and pharmacologic therapy. Clinical parameters that might influence therapeutic outcomes and recommendations regarding treatment are also presented.