The impact of anal incontinence: psychosocial and sexual consequences and factors associated with QoL in a Norwegian outpatient population.

OBJECTIVES: Anal incontinence (AI) is a distressing condition with grave impact on many aspects of life, including quality of life (QoL), social life and sexual activities. This study explored how AI and bowel symptoms impact QoL in a Norwegian population by (1) describing the psychosocial and sexual consequences of AI, and (2) investigating factors most often associated with AI-specific QoL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study among patients with AI referred to hospital outpatient clinics was conducted. A Norwegian version of ICIQ-B was used to measure bowel control, bowel symptoms, sexual impact, and impact on QoL. RESULTS: A total of 208 persons with AI completed the questionnaire. The results demonstrated that these patients are overall embarrassed, make plans according to the bowels, ensure the presence of a nearby toilet, and many abstain from sexual activities. After adjusting for other variables included in a multivariable model, we found that having bowel accidents on one's mind had the greatest relative impact on QoL, followed by lower bowel control, using more medications to stop bowels, having more pain/soreness around the back passage, lower age, and more straining to open the bowels. CONCLUSIONS: AI has substantial consequences for the psychosocial function and sexual activities of persons with AI. This study indicates that worrying about potential faecal accidents and the social stigma associated with this have greater impact on QoL than actual bowel leakages. Future studies should therefore focus on the emotional burden, patient coping, and health education related to bowel function and AI.

Translation and validation of the international consultation on incontinence questionnaire-Bowel in Danish men and women with pelvic floor disorders.

BACKGROUND: We lack a comprehensive validated Danish questionnaire to evaluate symptoms and bother regarding anal incontinence (AI). The International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Bowel (ICIQ-B) is an internationally recommended questionnaire containing 21 items, of which 17 are scored in three subscales: bowel pattern, bowel control, and quality of life. AIMS: To translate the ICIQ-B into Danish and to validate the Danish version in pelvic floor disorder (PFD) patients with and without AI. METHODS: The ICIQ-B was translated by a panel of healthcare professionals followed by cognitive interviews with PFD patients attending an outpatient clinic. Revisions were undertaken using an iterative process, and a backward translation was performed for the final version. Pretesting and test-retest of the ICIQ-B were done online and administrated together with the St. Mark's score. Content, structural, convergent and discriminant validity were assessed, followed by an evaluation of relative and absolute reliability, including the smallest real difference (SRD). RESULTS: Thirty cognitive patient interviews were performed, resulting in three revisions. The Danish ICIQ-B was found to be comprehensible and relevant but lacked items addressing the psychological impact of bowel problems. The ICIQ-B was completed online by 227 PFD patients with and without AI. The structural validity of the bowel pattern subscale could not be retrieved. Patients indicating AI had significantly higher ICIQ-B and St. Mark's scores than patients without AI, and ICIQ-B subscale scores correlated moderately with St. Mark's scores. Internal consistency was good except for the bowel pattern subscale. Seventy-six patients completed test-retest. Relative reliability was excellent for subscale scores and moderate or good for single items except for the item concerning stool consistency, which was weak. The SRD was found to be 2.8 for the bowel pattern subscale, 4.3 for bowel control subscale, and 3.6 for the quality-of-life subscale. CONCLUSION: The Danish version of the ICIQ-B can be used for Danish patients with PFD, and discriminant validity is good. The structural validity and the internal consistency of the bowel pattern subscale are questionable, indicating that some items do not represent the underlying construct. Test-retest reliability of the ICIQ-B is acceptable, but the change needed to reflect a real change above the measurement error in each subscale is three to four points.

Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the ICIQ-BD for Brazilian Women With Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESES: The International Continence Society recommends the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Bladder Diary (ICIQ-BD) for the assessment, management, and monitoring of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Translation, cross-cultural adaptation and validation will establish a valid and reliable tool for Brazilian women with LUTS. METHODS: A cross-sectional study involving 101 women was carried out at the Urogynecology Outpatient Clinic in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, between August 2020 and April 2022. The process of cross-cultural adaptation and validation was executed following the ICIQ Group's protocol. Reviewed by an expert committee, the first pre-test was followed by subsequent adaptations, resulting in a second adapted version that underwent expert revisions. A second pretest was conducted, followed by cross-cultural adaptation and construct validation. Finally, the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Bladder Diary-Brazilian Portuguese Version (ICIQ-BD-Br) underwent a validation process. RESULTS: Construct validity (IVC >0.78) and internal consistency were satisfactory (α-Cronbach coefficient 0.87-0.94). The following adjustments were made: a specific field was created to document sleep and wake times, and a printed score ranging from 0 to 4 was included in the bladder sensation column. Test-retest reliability ranged from fair to excellent for all analyzed items (Spearman correlation: 0.64-0.95). Criterion validity analysis indicated slight agreement for one of the four symptoms analyzed (nocturia k=0.32). The final version was approved by the ICIQ Group. CONCLUSIONS: The ICIQ-BD-Br has been adapted for use in Brazilian Portuguese and has exhibited robust construct validity and reliability for Brazilian women with LUTS.

Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Measurement Properties Analysis of the Brazilian Portuguese Version of the ICIQ-VS.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The high prevalence of pelvic floor disorders in women requires assessments using validated instruments. We aimed to translate, cross-culturally adapt to Brazilian Portuguese, and analyze the measurement properties of the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Vaginal Symptoms Module (ICIQ-VS-Br). METHODS: Participants were Brazilian women older than 18 years presenting vulvovaginal symptoms according to the Vulvovaginal Symptoms Questionnaire (VSQ-Br). The development of the ICIQ-VS-Br included the steps of translation, synthesis, back-translation, expert meeting, and pre-test. We analyzed construct validity by correlating the ICIQ-VS-Br and VSQ-Br. The participants answered the ICIQ-VS-Br the second time 7 to 10 days after the first response. We measured test-retest reliability using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha, and construct validity using Pearson's correlation coefficient. RESULTS: The study included 313 women. Reproducibility was analyzed for the three subscales of the ICIQ-VS-Br, resulting in an ICC of 0.92 (95% CI 0.89 to 0.94) for "vaginal symptoms," 0.85 (95% CI 0.78 to 0.89) for "sexual matters," and 0.87 (95% CI 0.81 to 0.91) for "quality of life." Construct validity showed a moderate correlation between ICIQ-VS-Br and VSQ-Br, confirming our hypotheses. CONCLUSIONS: The ICIQ-VS-Br demonstrated validity and reproducibility, indicating that the instrument can be used in scientific research and clinical practice.

Correlation Between Insulin Resistance and Urinary Incontinence in Female Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are at a high risk of developing urinary incontinence; however, its pathogenesis is unclear. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between insulin resistance and urinary incontinence and its severity in female patients with T2DM. METHODS: A total of 366 women with T2DM aged ≥18 years were enrolled in this study. Insulin resistance was evaluated by the homeostasis model insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index and urinary incontinence was assessed by the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form (ICIQ-SF). All subjects were divided into four groups according to HOMA-IR quartiles. Logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the relationship between insulin resistance and urinary incontinence and its severity. RESULTS: Among the 366 patients, 186 (50.8%) had urinary incontinence. The prevalence of urinary incontinence increased significantly with HOMA-IR quartiles (p < 0.001). Adjusted logistic regression analysis showed that compared with HOMA-IR ≤ 1.76, 2.81 ≤ HOMA-IR ≤ 4.27 was associated with a significantly increased risk of moderate incontinence (OR = 2.197, 95% CI 1.031-4.683, p = 0.041), and HOMA-IR ≥ 4.28 was associated with a significantly increased risk of severe incontinence (OR = 5.699, 95% CI 1.685-19.276, p = 0.005). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that HOMA-IR was the independent risk factor for urinary incontinence (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Higher levels of insulin resistance are associated with urinary incontinence and its severity in female patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Minimum important difference of the ICIQ-UI SF score after self-management of urinary incontinence.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate clinically relevant improvement after conservative self-management of urinary incontinence via a mobile app. It further aimed to establish Minimum Important Differences (MIDs) based on the severity and type of urinary incontinence. METHODS: Data was collected in a prospective cohort study that evaluated the freely available app Tät®. The app provided pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) and life-style advice. Non-pregnant, non-postpartum women (≥ 18 years) who downloaded the app to treat urinary incontinence were included, if they completed the Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I) question at the 3-month follow-up (n = 1,733). Participants answered the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire (ICIQ-UI SF) at baseline and after 3 months. The score change was analysed for correlation (Spearman) with the PGI-I. We then analysed one-way ANOVAs to determine whether there were significant differences between the groups based on the answers to the PGI-I. The MID was set to the mean change of the group that selected the answer "a little better" to the PGI-I question. RESULTS: The one-way ANOVA showed significant differences between PGI-I groups (p < 0.001). The MID for the general group was set to 1.46 (95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.26-1.67). In the sub-group analyses, a MID for the group with slight incontinence could not be determined. For the group with moderate severity the MID was determined to be 1.33 (95% CI 1.10-1.57) and for the severe/very severe group it was 3.58 (95% CI 3.08-4.09). Analysis of different types of incontinence showed no difference in MIDs. CONCLUSIONS: The MID for self-management via a mobile app was lower than previously established MIDs, but differed depending on baseline severity. This study shows that MIDs need adjustment for baseline severity and treatment intensity when interpreting clinical trial results. If using MIDs as exact numbers, the study population and the treatment must be comparable.

[Effects of non-face-to-face gait and muscle strength training for urinary incontinence in community-dwelling middle-aged and older women: A randomized controlled trial].

Objectives　Although the effectiveness of status-to-interview-guided exercise therapy to improve urinary incontinence has been reported, reports on non-face-to-face guided exercise therapy are lacking. This study aimed to analyze the effect of using non-face-to-face training guidance for walking and strength training on the frequency and degree of urinary incontinence and improvement in the urinary incontinence-induced decline in the quality of life (QoL) of community-dwelling middle-aged and older women.Methods　This study included 68 women, aged 46-64 years, having self-evaluated stress urinary incontinence. The participants in the intervention group watched a video that guided them on how to walk effectively and gradually increase their number of steps. Additionally, a non-face-to-face lecture was conducted on the comprehensive training content, including muscle strengthening exercises necessary for walking at home, as muscle weakness is one of the causes of urinary incontinence. The control group was instructed to continue living as usual without any interventions. The intervention period was 12 weeks. The primary endpoints included the urinary leakage frequency score, urinary leakage volume score, and degree of decline in the QoL, and these were compared before and after the intervention using the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF). To elucidate the effect of the increase in the step count on the primary outcome, we calculated the rate of increase in the step count before and after the intervention in the intervention group. Moreover, a sub-analysis was performed for the high-step count (n=16) and low step-count (n=16) groups before and after the intervention.Results　Significant differences were observed in the urinary leakage frequency, urinary leakage volume, and ICIQ-SF scores at 12 weeks post-intervention between the groups (P<0.05). In the high-step count group, both the urinary leakage frequency and ICIQ-SF scores showed a significant tendency to improve from 8 weeks compared to the pre-intervention scores.Conclusion　Since this study was conducted as an open-label trial, the possibility of an inherent bias in subjective outcome assessment should be considered during interpretation of the results. Our findings indicate that walking and muscle strength training, even with non-face-to-face guidance, for middle-aged and older community-dwelling women with urinary incontinence can effectively improve the urinary leakage symptoms and degree of decline in the QoL. Furthermore, greater effects could be expected by encouraging an increase in the number of daily steps with the intervention.

Comparison of postoperative urinary continence and incontinence types between conventional and Retzius-sparing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.

AIMS: This study aimed to investigate the postoperative urinary continence rate and incontinence types compared over time between conventional robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (C-RARP) and Retzius-sparing RARP (RS-RARP). METHODS: All 61 cases were selected from the C-RARP and RS-RARP by propensity score matching, and the pad scale, 24-h pad weight test, and International consultation on incontinence questionnaire-short form (ICIQ-SF) were followed-up over time up to 12 months. RESULTS: The probability of urinary continence per pad scale evaluation differed according to how it was defined: the continence rate 12 months after C-RARP and RS-RARP were 94% and 95% for 1 pad/day, 85% and 92% for 1 security pad/day, 61% and 85% for no pad use, respectively, which were all significantly better with RS-RARP. The results of the 24-h pad weight test were significantly better with RS-RARP at both 3 and 12 months, with median C-RARP versus RS-RARP values of 5 versus 1 g and 2 versus 0 g, respectively. In terms of types of urinary incontinence, the rates of postoperative stress urinary incontinence (SUI) increased in both procedures but to a lesser extent in RS-RARP. Other types of urinary incontinence, such as urge incontinence and terminal dribbling, did not differ significantly before and after surgery and between the two procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative urinary continence was better with RS-RARP than with C-RARP per all follow-up parameters until 12 months postoperatively. Postoperative SUI was significantly lower with RS-RARP than with C-RARP, which was considered the main reason for better postoperative urinary continence with RS-RARP.

Tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors: which one is the culprit of urinary incontinence in premenopausal breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant hormone therapy?

AIM: The primary aim of this study was to compare tamoxifen versus aromatase inhibitors (AI) in terms of urinary incontinence (UI) in premenopausal female patients receiving adjuvant hormone therapy for breast cancer. A secondary aim was to investigate the prevalence and the affecting factors of UI. METHODS: This study was designed as a multicenter, cross-sectional that included consecutive premenopausal breast cancer patients ≤50 years of age receiving tamoxifen (with/without LHRHa) or AI (with LHRHa) for at least 6 months, between June 2021 and September 2022. Patients with urinary incontinence before hormone treatments and metastatic patients were excluded from the study. Turkish validation of The International Consultation on Incontinence Modular Questionnaire Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ UI-SF) was used to determine the UI. Using logistic regression methods, we analyzed potential predictive factors for UI. RESULTS: A total of 206 breast cancer patients were included in this study. A total of 120 (58.2%) patients were receiving tamoxifen plus LHRHa, 40 (19.4%) patients were receiving aromatase inhibitor plus LHRHa, and 46 (22.3%) patients were receiving tamoxifen only. In this study, the prevalence of urinary incontinence was found to be 35.9% (n:74). 41% of the patients receiving tamoxifen and 15.0% of those receiving aromatase inhibitors had complaints of urinary incontinence. There was a statistically significant difference between patients receiving tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitor in terms of urinary incontinence (p=0.001). In the univariate analysis established to predict UI, parity (≥2 vs <2) (OR = 3.23, 95% CI: 1.62-6.46, p= 0.001), tamoxifen (vs AI) (OR = 3.97, 95% CI: 1.58-9.98, p= 0.003), age ( ≥40 vs. <40) (OR = 2.80, 95% CI: 1.37-5.71, p= 0.005), vaginal deliveries (≥2 vs. <2) (OR = 3.28, 95% CI: 1.44-7.46, p= 0.005), hypertension (OR = 3.59, 95% CI: 1.43-9.02, p= 0.007), diuretic use (OR = 2.55, 95% CI: 1.09-5.95, p= 0.031) ), and body mass index (≥25 vs <25) (OR = 1.94, 95% CI: 1.05-3.63), p= 0.034) was found to be predictive. Tamoxifen (OR = 4.71, 95% CI: 1.77-12.56, p= 0.002), hypertension (OR = 3.48, 95% CI: 1.27-9.52, p= 0.015), and age (OR = 2.35, 95% CI: 1.10-5.02, p= 0.027) remained independent predictors for incontinence in multivariate analyses. CONCLUSION: We found that tamoxifen had increased the risk of urinary incontinence compared to aromatase inhibitors in patients receiving hormone therapy for breast cancer. In addition, we showed that age and hypertension were also independent predictors for UI. In the context of quality of life, we recommend close follow-up of these patients, as drug adherence may be affected in the event of urinary incontinence.

Novel clinically meaningful scores for the ICIQ-UI-SF and ICIQ-FLUTS questionnaires in women with stress incontinence.

AIM: To establish, for the first time, the clinically important differences for the ICIQ-UI-SF and ICIQ-FLUTS questionnaires following surgical and conservative treatments for stress-predominant urinary incontinence in women. METHODS: Data from the SIMS and OPAL randomised controlled trials were analysed using an anchor-based method. Clinically important difference (CID; score change indicating a successful outcome) and minimal important difference (MID; score change indicating the smallest noticeable difference) were estimated using the PGI-I scale as the anchor. RESULTS: For ICIQ-UI-SF, following surgical management, CIDs were 5.0 (95%CI 4.3, 5.6) at 1 year and 4.9 points (95%CI 4.2, 5.5) at 3 years, while following conservative management, CIDs were 4.0 (95%CI 3.4, 4.5) at 1 year and 4.6 points (95%CI 4.0, 5.2) at 2 years. For ICIQ-FLUTS, the CID was 3.4 points (95%CI 2.9, 4.0) at 1 year for both surgical and conservative management. MIDs for ICIQ-UI-SF, after surgical treatment, were 4.7 (95% CI 3.2, 6.1) at 1 year and 1.6 points (95%CI -0.2, 3.0) at 3 years, and after conservative treatment they were 1.7 (95% CI 1.0, 2.5) at 1 year and 1.9 points (95%CI 1.1, 2.7) at 2 years. For ICIQ-FLUTS, MIDs were 1.8 (95% CI 0.6, 3.1) at 1 year and 3.2 points (95%CI 2.0, 4.4) at 2 years after surgical treatment, and 1.3 (95%CI 0.6, 1.9) at 1 year and 1.9 points (95%CI 1.1, 2.6) at 2 years after conservative treatment. CONCLUSION: Our study is the first to establish the CID for the ICIQ-UI-SF and ICIQ-FLUTS that women would associate with a successful outcome 3-years post-surgery and 2-years post-conservative treatment of stress-predominant urinary incontinence. The MID was lower following conservative compared to surgical treatment.

Urinary incontinence in female athletes with inadequate eating behavior: a case-control study.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Female athletes can develop symptoms of urinary incontinence (UI) as well as risk behaviors for eating disorders owing to the type of training and sports modality. Such symptoms are intensified by the demands for results and an idealized body composition. Our aim is to investigate the possible association between urinary incontinence and risk behaviors for eating disorders in female athletes. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted with 270 female athletes who answered the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire (ICIQ-SF) and the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26). Different sports modalities and their respective impact levels were considered in the study. Female athletes were divided into two groups, i.e., athletes with UI (case group) and those without UI (control group). Multiple logistic regression was used to calculate associated factors. RESULTS: From all variables included in the study, only abnormal eating behavior was found to be associated with UI according to the multiple logistic regression test. Participants with UI were 2.15-fold more likely to have risk behaviors for eating disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Female athletes with UI were more likely to have risk behaviors for eating disorders. Multidisciplinary teams that provide care for these athletes should be attentive to symptoms that may not appear to be associated at first glance but may reflect a condition that needs to be treated.

Impact of bariatric surgery on urinary incontinence in morbidly obese individuals.

BACKGROUND: There is scanty evidence on the impact of bariatric surgery on urinary incontinence (UI) in the Asian population. METHODOLOGY: Patients who underwent bariatric surgery from June 2018 to June 2019 were screened using the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence-Short Form (ICIQ-UI-SF) questionnaire. Patients having UI were identified and followed until 1 year of surgery using the ICIQ-UI-SF. These were classified as having stress, urge, or mixed type of UI. The prevalence, change in scores, and the number of pads used were compared at baseline and at follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 148 patients underwent bariatric surgery of whom, 41 patients (M = 2, F = 39) had UI. Stress incontinence was seen in 70.7%, 19.5% had urge incontinence, and rest had the mixed type. Using logistic regression, it was found that female gender was the most important predictor of having UI (OR: 8.33). The prevalence of UI decreased from 27.7% at baseline to 8.1% at 6 months and 3.4% at 12 months. The mean ICIQ-UI-SF score improved from 8.76 (SD = 3.2) at baseline to 0.66 (SD = 2.1) at 12 months of follow-up. The proportion of patients with UI using any number of pads decreased from 92.7% at baseline to 9.8% at 12 months. There was a decrease in the number of patients having moderate to very severe UI from 35 (85.4%) at baseline to 2 (4.9%) at 12 months. Proportion of patients showing resolution was highest among the stress incontinence group at 96.5%. Presence or absence of comorbidities did not significantly influence the ICIQ-UI-SF scores. CONCLUSION: Bariatric surgery leads to profound improvement in UI in obese individuals which is well sustained until 1 year of follow-up. Resolution rates might be higher in Asian population.

Evaluation of urinary continence status and its influence on quality of life after gyneco-oncological treatment of female pelvic malignancies at an oncological center.

Urinary incontinence (UI) could negatively affect a person's quality of life (QoL). This study investigates the association among gynecological cancers, their treatments, UI, and its effect on the QoL of survivors of gynecological cancer. This cross-sectional questionnaire-based study included 121 cases from 405 patients who had undergone gyneco-oncological therapy. The participants were asked whether they experienced any form of UI and whether it impacted their QoL. The following therapies were used to treat the 12 gynecologic tumor types found in the participants: surgery (n = 116, 95.87%), chemotherapy (CTx) (n = 51, 42.2%), radiotherapy (RTx) (n = 31, 25.6%), and antibody therapy (ABT) (n = 11, 9.1%). No significant association was determined between tumor type and UI. However, body mass index (BMI), radical hysterectomy, vulvar or vaginal surgery, and presence of UI before treatment had significant impacts on the presence of UI. The surgical access routes, CTx, ABT, and hysterectomy had significant impacts on the severity of UI after treatment. Among all patients, 55.4% reported very good QoL. These reports of good QoL by patients could be due to their very good adjustment to the situation, with regard to being diagnosed with and receiving treatment for cancer, or due to the patients considering UI to not be much of an issue. Additionally, 34% of patients reported they had not been informed about the risk of UI before treatment. Informing patients about UI as one of the risks of therapy before initiating the treatment is crucial as patients who had been informed beforehand coped with UI far better than those who were not informed. Hence, the treatment of UI is often successful, so patients should be encouraged to receive urogynecological consultation.

"Mesh free" autologous transobturator mid urethral sling placement for predominant stress urinary incontinence: A pilot study.

AIMS: To assess the efficacy and safety of autologous mid-urethral sling (MUS) in women with predominant stress urinary incontinence (SUI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective cohort study included adult women with predominant SUI seen in our urology clinic between January 2018 and March 2019. Patients with: negative cough stress test, history of prior incontinence surgery, urogenital malignancy, pelvic radiation, neurological disease, body mass index more than 40 kg/m2 , the presence of more than Stage I pelvic organ prolapse, active urinary tract infection, maximum flow rate less than 15 ml/sec, postvoid residual urine more than 100 ml, abdominal leak point pressure less than 60 cm of H2 O, and pregnant women were excluded. Eligible patients underwent a transobturator MUS procedure using rectus fascia as a sling. Before the procedure, patients filled the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptom (ICIQ-FLUTS) and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire. Urinary outcomes were assessed at 3- and 12-months while sexual outcomes were assessed at 12-months. RESULTS: Thirty patients with median age of 44.5 years were included. All patients had a negative cough stress test during follow up. A significant improvement was noted in the ICIQ-FLUTS scale, bother scale, filling and incontinence subscales at 3 and 12 month follow-up. A significant improvement was also noted in the FSFI full scale score and FSFI domains of mean sexual desire, arousal and lubrication at 12 months follow-up. Two patients developed voiding dysfunction requiring urethral dilatation. CONCLUSION: Autologous transobturator MUS surgery appears to be safe and efficacious in the short term. More research is needed to clarify its role in the surgical management of SUI in women.

Polish versions of the ICIQ-FLUTS and the ICIQ-FLUTS LF: translation, adaptation, and validation of female-specific instruments for evaluation of lower urinary tract symptoms.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Previously, there was no specific questionnaire in the Polish language for overall assessment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in women. The aim of this study was to translate, culturally adapt, and validate Polish versions of the International Consultation on Incontinence Modular Questionnaire on Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (ICIQ-FLUTS and ICIQ-FLUTS LF, short and long forms) for use in clinical practice and research in Poland. METHODS: The original English ICIQ-FLUTS and ICIQ-FLUTS LF were adapted to Polish according to international standards and recommended procedures. Adult women with LUTS who were seen at the Department of Urology at the Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland, completed the ICIQ-FLUTS and ICIQ-FLUTS LF at baseline and 2 weeks later. Control participants completed the questionnaires once. Validity and reliability were determined. RESULTS: One hundred and eighty Polish-speaking women who had LUTS completed the questionnaires. Content validity was high. Significant differences between women with LUTS and controls for both ICIQ-FLUTS and ICIQ-FLUTS LF confirmed optimal construct validity. An intercorrelation analysis revealed that internal consistency was good for ICIQ-FLUTS and ICIQ-FLUTS LF (Cronbach's alpha >0.7). Test-retest reliability (reproducibility) demonstrated strong stability (intraclass correlation coefficient > 0.7). Floor and ceiling effects were absent from women with LUTS, whereas a floor effect was detected in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The Polish ICIQ-FLUTS and ICIQ-FLUTS LF are valid, reliable, and consistent measures of overall evaluation of LUTS in women. They are equivalent to the original English versions, and they retained the psychometric properties of the original questionnaires.

Complications and re-operations after tension-free vaginal tape operation in women with stress urinary incontinence.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: We evaluate intraoperative and short-term postoperative (≤ 3 months) complications and long-term re-operations (up to 6 years) after tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) operation in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). METHODS: Data from 446 women undergoing TVT operation between 2012 and 2016 at a tertiary referral center was retrospectively collected. Data included patient baseline demographics, information from the TVT operation and the following postoperative period, and scores from patient questionnaires [the International Consultation of Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF) and Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I)]. Collected data were investigated for incidence of complications and re-operations, postoperative improvement in patient questionnaires, and association between complications and baseline patient demographics. RESULTS: The only intraoperative complication was bladder perforation (2.0%). Postoperative complications included: infection (0.7%), hematoma (0.9%), bleeding (0.2%), pain (0.9%), erosion of the vaginal mucosa (1.1%), persistent SUI (0.7%), and voiding dysfunction > 24 h (10.3%). Re-operations included: operation due to infections (0.4%), incontinence surgery for persistent SUI (0.4%), revision for tape erosion (1.1%), tape mobilization (3.6%), and tape division (0.2%). A significant reduction in urinary incontinence symptoms was observed in the ICIQ-UI SF and PGI-I. The reduction in ICIQ-UI SF did not vary significantly between patients with and without complications. No association between complications and baseline patient demographics was found. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated high safety and efficacy of the TVT operation with only minor short-term complications and few long-term re-operations. The ICIQ-UI SF improved significantly postoperatively and was not statistically significantly affected by the occurrence of complications.

Quality of life in women with urinary incontinence seeking care using e-health.

BACKGROUND: Quality of life (QoL) in women with urinary incontinence (UI) is mainly affected by UI severity, but it is also affected by the UI subtype, comorbidities, age, and socioeconomic status. e-Health is a new method for providing UI treatment. This study aimed to identify factors with the highest impact on QoL in women that turned to e-health for UI self-management. METHODS: We analysed data from three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated e-health treatments for UI. We included baseline data for 373 women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and 123 women with urgency/mixed UI (UUI/MUI). All participants were recruited online, with no face-to-face contact. Participants completed two questionnaires: the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF, range: 0-21 points), for assessing UI severity, and the ICIQ Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Quality of Life (ICIQ-LUTSqol, range: 19-76 points), for assessing condition-specific quality of life (QoL). To identify factors that impacted QoL, we constructed a linear regression model. RESULTS: The mean ICIQ-LUTSqol score was 34.9 (SD 7.6). UI severity significantly affected QoL; the adjusted mean ICIQ-LUTSqol score increased by 1.5 points for each 1.0-point increase in the overall ICIQ-UI SF score (p < 0.001). The UI type also significantly affected QoL; the adjusted mean ICIQ-LUTSqol score was 2.5 points higher in women with UUI/MUI compared to those with SUI (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We found that women that turned to e-health for UI self-management advice had a reduced QoL, as shown previously among women seeking UI care through conventional avenues, and that the severity of leakage had a greater impact on QoL than the type of UI. Condition-specific factors impacted the QoL slightly less among women that turned to e-health, compared to women that sought help in ordinary care. Thus, e-health might have reached a new group of women in need of UI treatment.

The International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaires (ICIQ): An update on status and direction.

AIMS: In its 22nd year, the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire (ICIQ) project continues to promote its primary objective; the development and dissemination of patient completed questionnaires for the standardized, high-quality assessment of urinary, bowel, and vaginal symptoms. The paper gives an update on the ICIQ in the context of current scientific developments of PROM design and regulatory requirements, and plans are outlined for its future direction. METHODS: An online library of all questionnaires, including over 300 translations has been launched to facilitate access through a semi-automated registration system. The ICIQ project continues to update its protocol to meet current scientific standards and incorporate methodological advances within PROM development. RESULTS: Nineteen psychometrically validated patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are published for use in clinical practice and research, including amongst others, a bladder diary, male and female lower urinary tract symptoms, long term catheter, pad use, and bowel symptom questionnaires. The original ICIQ-UI Short Form for the assessment of urinary incontinence continues to be the most internationally used questionnaire and has been translated into over 60 languages. New questionnaires which are under development include the ICIQ-Underactive Bladder and ICIQ-Satisfaction. We anticipate the new website and online library will further facilitate the ease of dissemination and availability of the questionnaires for clinical practice and research. CONCLUSION: The ICIQ continues to successfully achieve its primary objective. Going forward, a greater focus on promoting routine clinical use and the potential for electronic integration into databases and medical records is envisaged.

Laparoscopic bilateral groin hernia repair with one large self-fixating mesh: prospective observational study with patient-reported outcome of urological symptoms and EuraHS-QoL scores.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic bilateral inguinal hernia repair may be completed with one large self-fixating mesh crossing the midline. No studies have investigated in detail whether preperitoneal mesh placement induces temporary or more lasting urinary symptoms. METHODS: Urinary and hernia-related symptoms were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively at 1, 3 and 12 months using the ICIQ-MLUTS questionnaire and EuraHS-QoL score in patients undergoing bilateral inguinal hernia repair. RESULTS: One hundred patients were included. Voiding symptoms and bother scores were unchanged at 1 or 3 months, but there was significant improvement at 12 months compared with preoperative findings (symptoms P < 0.001; bother score P < 0.01). Incontinence symptoms improved at 1 month (P < 0.05) but not at 3 or 12 months, with a bother score significantly improved at 1 month (P < 0.01) and 12 months (P < 0.01). Diurnal and nocturnal frequency did not change significantly postoperatively, but 12 months nocturnal bother score was decreased (P < 0.05). EuraHS-QoL scores showed statistical significant improvement in all three domains for all measurements at the different follow-up moments compared to previous measurements. Postoperative symptoms were improved at 12 months, compared with preoperative pain scores (- 6.1), restriction of activity (- 10.1) and cosmetic scores (- 4.7) These findings were statistically significant (P < 0.001). At 12 months, there were no patients with severe discomfort (score ≥ 5) for any of the three domains. No recurrences were diagnosed with 95% clinical follow-up at 12 months. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic bilateral groin hernia repair with one large preperitoneal self-fixating mesh did not cause new urinary symptoms and demonstrated significant improvement in voiding symptoms at 12 months. Incontinence and nocturnal bother score were significantly improved. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY IDENTIFIER: Clinical.Trials.gov: NCT02525666.

Validation of the Thai version of the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (ICIQ-FLUTS).

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: To provide a validated Thai language version of the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (ICIQ-FLUTS) following a standardized procedure and to evaluate its psychometric properties. METHODS: After IRB approval, the English ICIQ-FLUTS was translated into Thai according to the cross-cultural adaptation process for patient-reported outcome measures. The psychometric properties of the final version of the Thai ICIQ-FLUTS were tested for content validity, internal consistency, construct validity, and test-retest reliability. Patients attending an urogynecology clinic and women from two communities were recruited for this study. RESULTS: The final Thai version of the ICIQ-FLUTS was developed and assessed by a panel of clinicians fluent in both languages including the content expert. Women with and without female lower urinary tract symptoms (FLUTS), in whom the translation was pretested, agreed that the final version made sense and was understandable. Among the 288 women who received the questionnaires, 283 (142 attending the clinic and 141 living in the communities) returned the completed questionnaire. The overall internal consistency of the Thai-version questionnaire was high, with a Cronbach's alpha score of 0.849. Symptom scores for filling, voiding, and incontinence in patients attending the clinic were significantly higher than in individuals from the community (p < 0.001). The correlation coefficients between the test and retest among 136 participants for symptoms of filling, voiding, and incontinence were 0.925, 0.769, and 0.921, respectively (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The Thai ICIQ-FLUTS contained satisfactory content and exhibited construct validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability. It is equivalent to the original English version and will be a valuable tool for assessing LUTS in Thai-speaking women.