Online Group-based Pelvic Floor Muscle Training for Urinary Incontinence in Older Women: a Pilot Study.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Urinary incontinence (UI) is prevalent among older women, but conservative treatment rates remain low due to limited accessibility, despite evidence supporting pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) efficacy. Group-based approaches, including online options, could offer cost-effective alternatives. Recent evidence supports the feasibility of online group-based PFMT for treating UI in older women. This pilot study now evaluated the clinical effects of this program on the number of leakage episodes per day, additional UI-specific outcomes, and other symptoms and indicators. METHODS: Community-dwelling women aged 65 and over, with stress or mixed UI, were recruited. Eligibility was assessed through in-person evaluations conducted by pelvic floor physiotherapists, who instructed participants on pelvic floor muscle contraction using digital palpation. Participants engaged in a 12-week group-based PFMT program with weekly 1-h sessions. Data were collected at three time points: recruitment (PRE1), before the first session (PRE2), and after the program (POST). Participants recorded UI symptoms using 7-day bladder diaries and standardized questionnaires on UI symptoms, quality of life (QoL), UI self-efficacy, and perceived costs. After the program (POST), participants provided feedback on their impression of improvement and satisfaction. RESULTS: Participants reported a significant reduction in their number of leakage episodes per day. Standardized questionnaire scores also supported the positive effects of the program on UI symptoms and QoL, self-efficacy in avoiding leakage and performing PFMT exercises, and monthly costs for continence products. Older women expressed high satisfaction with symptom improvement and the program. CONCLUSIONS: Online group-based PFMT improved UI symptoms, QoL, UI self-efficacy, and perceived UI costs among older women. Pragmatic randomized controlled trials are necessary for further validation.

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.

Mediating role of functional limitations in the association of urinary incontinence with depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older adults: The English Longitudinal Study of Aging.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of urinary incontinence with depressive symptoms, and to explore the mediating effect of functional limitations on this association. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 7039 adults aged 50 and over from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging (Wave 8). Urinary incontinence was defined as whether the participants experienced urinary incontinence in the past 12 months. Depressive symptoms were assessed based on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale. Functional limitations included disability of activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, mobility and large muscle groups limitation of the participants. Logistic regression based on Karlson/Holm/Breen (KHB) method was applied to estimate the association of urinary incontinence with depressive symptoms and explore the mediating effect of functional limitations. RESULTS: Urinary incontinence was significantly associated with increased risk of depressive symptoms after controlling covariates (odds ratio = 1.75, 95 % confidence interval: 1.45-2.11). Functional limitations explained 36.96 % of this association. CONCLUSION: Urinary incontinence might be associated with an increased risk of depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older adults and functional limitations partially mediate this association. Improving physically functional capacity might play an important role in preventing and managing depressive symptoms in elderly people with urinary incontinence.

Pressure transmission theory-The Rasputin of incontinence.

BACKGROUND: Enhorning's pressure transmission theory (PTT), though mortally wounded by multiple invalidations from the 1990 Integral Theory of female urinary incontinence (IT), like Rasputin, continues to survive as a theory for continence and incontinence. AIM: To examine the questions: How has the PTT survived? What is its contribution to knowledge? METHODS: Eleven different invalidations are presented based on images, pressure readings, clinical examples, experiments by the author, and others, for example, flow mechanics, finite element models, and surgical operations. RESULTS: Each of the 11 invalidations prima facie invalidate the PTTs of enhorning and others. CONCLUSIONS: "How has the PTT survived?" Having provided a plausible explanation for all abdominal stress urinary incontinence operations since 100 years, PTT, unsurprisingly, like climate change today, had become an entrenched convention which abdicated the need for midurethral sling (MUS) surgeons to learn the very different functional surgical anatomy underlying the MUS. "Has the PTT progressed knowledge, or retarded it?" This lack of knowledge by the surgeons of how and why the MUS works could be held responsible for the large number of major complications reported by the TVT: including, transected urethras, obturator nerve damage, perforation of external iliac vessels, more than 20 deaths. The role of the sling is to strengthen the pubourethral neoligament to prevent the urethra opening out under stress, not to elevate it. Elevating the sling remains the major cause of the most frequent complication of the MUS today, postoperative urinary retention.

An Alarm Watch for Daytime Urinary Incontinence: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVES: Daytime urinary incontinence is disabling and occurs in 17% of school-aged children. Timed-voiding is part of standard therapy. Can an alarm watch to aid timed-voiding improve treatment response to standard therapy? METHODS: The WATCH (Watch with Alarm for Timed-Voiding in Children) study is a randomized controlled trial. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to a vibrating alarm or nonalarming watch for 3-months. The primary outcome was the proportion who achieved a complete response (14 consecutive dry days) after 3-months of treatment. Children aged 5 to 13 years who were prescribed timed-voiding for daytime urinary incontinence. RESULTS: Overall, 243 children, with a mean age of 8 years, were enrolled, with 62% girls. At 3-months, the complete response rates were similar between the 2 groups (22% alarm versus 17% control; difference: 5%; 95% confidence interval (CI): -5% to 16%; P = .42). In the alarm group, treatment adherence was higher (40% vs 10%; difference: 30%; 95% CI: 20% to 40%; P < .001), frequency of incontinence was lower (25% dry; 40% had 1-3 wet days per week, 24% had 4-6 wet days per week, and 12% had daily wetting, compared with 19%, 30%, 35%, and 16%, respectively; P =.05), and fewer had abnormal postvoid residual urine volumes (12% vs 24%; difference: -12%; 95% CI: -21% to -1%; P = .04) compared with the control group. Improvement was transient and did not persist 6 months beyond the treatment period. CONCLUSIONS: Alarm watches do not appear to lead to complete resolution of urinary incontinence in children but did promote treatment adherence, normalization of postvoid residual volumes, and reduction in incontinent episodes while being used.

Correlation between the Incontinence Severity Index (ISI) and the quality of life dimensions of the King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ) in German-speaking urinary incontinent women.

BACKGROUND: The Incontinence Severity Index (ISI) is a patient questionnaire to ascertain severity of urinary incontinence (UI) via two items. The aim of this study was to translate the ISI into German, to compare it with the German-language King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ), an already validated German-language questionnaire within the scope of UI to measure condition-specific quality of life (QoL), and to gain more insights into association between symptom severity and QoL in German-speaking women affected. METHODS: A total of 161 urinary incontinent women completed the ISI and the KHQ. Mean scores of the KHQ domains were computed and separated into severity-groups ascertained by the ISI (slight, moderate, severe, and very severe). Differences between severity-groups were examined using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U test. Correlation between ISI and KHQ were computed using Spearman's correlation coefficient to investigate construct validity of the ISI as well as association between symptom severity and QoL. RESULTS: Overall, mean scores of the KHQ domains increased with increasing severity level. A consistent significant increase was found in role, physical, and social limitations (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the ISI showed moderate to strong correlations with related domains (convergent validity) and weak correlations with non-related domains of the KHQ (discriminant validity). CONCLUSIONS: Construct validity of the German-language ISI is acceptable. Therefore this study supports its use in German-speaking women but further studies have to be done to gain more comprehensive insights into its psychometric properties. Moreover, increasing symptom severity is associated with decreasing QoL, especially concerning role, physical, and social limitations. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: DRKS00018777.

Evaluation of free mobile health applications for pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence.

BACKGROUND: Technology is becoming increasingly integrated into healthcare, including the rapid development of mobile health (mHealth) applications (apps) for various medical conditions such as urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse (POP). As patients turn to these sources more frequently, closer evaluation of the apps becomes more important. OBJECTIVES: To (1) evaluate free applications designed for POP and urinary incontinence using the Xcertia guidelines for medical app quality, (2) analyze user sentiment of the apps, and (3) evaluate app information for quality, understandability, and actionability with the DISCERN and the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT) tools. METHODS: Mobile medical apps were identified on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store with keywords "pelvic organ prolapse," "incontinence," or "bladder." Exclusion criteria included 1) not free, 2) not updated in past year, 3) required a product for use, 4) not in English. Apps were evaluated using the Xcertia Guidelines. Categories included Operability, Privacy, Security, Content, and Usability. Ratings and sentiment of reviews were assessed, and associations analyzed with one-sided Fisher's exact test. Apps with an informational component were evaluated for quality, usability and actionability using DISCERN and PEMAT criteria. RESULTS: Overall, a total of 73 apps were found and 28 were included. There was an average number of ratings of 2341 and an average score of 3.39 for all the apps included. The average number of reviews was 216.2, with the majority of reviews having positive sentiment. A high number of ratings was associated with a high rating score (p < 0.05) and a high number of reviews was associated with a high percentage of positive reviews (p < 0.05). Based on Xcertia Guidelines, all apps met the guidelines for privacy, security, and usability. Regarding content, 67.9 % of apps incorporated an informational component, but only 17.9 % delineated sources. The average DISCERN score for information quality indicated good quality information (>3). The average PEMAT scores for Understandability and Actionability were 90.6 % and 86.6 %, respectively, which are good scores (≥75 %). CONCLUSIONS: Most free apps were functional and well received by users, however quality of app content varied. Only some apps had an informational component, and even fewer had sources listed. Providers recommending health apps should consider those that meet Xcertia guidelines, have reliable information, and have good understandability and actionability.

The Association of Physical Activity and Urinary Incontinence in US Women: Results from a Multi-Year National Survey.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the relationships between physical activity, both work and recreational, and urinary incontinence among women. METHODS: We assessed women aged 20 years and older in 2008-2018 NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) cycles who answered self-reported urinary incontinence and physical activity questions. Weighted, multivariate logistic regression model was used to determine the association between incontinence and physical activity levels after adjusting for age, body mass index, diabetes, race, parity, menopause and smoking. RESULTS: A total of 30,213 women were included in analysis, of whom 23.15% had stress incontinence, 23.16% had urge incontinence, and 8.42% had mixed incontinence (answered "yes" to both stress and urge incontinence). Women who engaged in moderate recreational activity were less likely to report stress and urge incontinence (OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.62-0.99 and OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.48-0.90, respectively). Similarly, women who engaged in moderate activity work were less likely to report stress, urge and mixed incontinence (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.70-0.99; OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.72-0.99; and OR 0.66 95% CI 0.45-0.97, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Moderate physical activity and greater time spent participating in moderate physical activity are associated with a decreased likelihood of stress, urge and mixed incontinence in women. This relationship holds for both recreational and work-related activity. We hypothesize that the mechanism of this relationship is multifactorial, with moderate physical activity improving pelvic floor strength and modifying neurophysiological mediators (such as stress) involved in the pathogenesis of incontinence.

Uso do estudo urodinâmico por ginecologistas e urologistas no Brasil / Use of the urodynamic study by gynecologists and urologists in Brazil

Objetivo: O estudo urodinâmico (EUD) é um conjunto de exames que estuda o armazenamento e o esvaziamento da urina e é amplamente utilizado por ginecologistas e urologistas na abordagem da incontinência urinária (IU) feminina, apesar da discussão sobre suas indicações. Os objetivos do estudo foram verificar se a urodinâmica é utilizada rotineiramente na abordagem conservadora e cirúrgica da IU feminina, e quais outras indicações clínicas, comparando as respostas entre ginecologistas e urologistas brasileiros. Métodos: Trata-se de uma pesquisa de opinião por meio de um questionário semiestruturado, composto por perguntas sobre a prática clínica em IU, enviado por e-mail a ginecologistas e urologistas, e realizada entre agosto de 2020 e janeiro de 2021. As respostas foram comparadas por meio de análises estatísticas. Resultados: Dos 329 participantes, 238 (72,3%) eram ginecologistas e 91 (27,7%), urologistas. A maioria dos ginecologistas (73,5%) e urologistas (86,6%) não solicita EUD antes do tratamento conservador da IU, mas o EUD é indicado rotineiramente no pré-operatório de cirurgias anti-incontinência. A maioria dos participantes indica EUD na abordagem inicial da bexiga hiperativa (88,2% vs. 96,7%) e há maior chance de o urologista solicitar mais EUD nessa situação (OR = 3,9). Para a maioria dos participantes, é necessário solicitar a urocultura antes do EUD. Conclusão: A maioria dos ginecologistas e urologistas brasileiros não solicita o EUD antes do tratamento conservador da IU, de acordo com as diretrizes nacionais e internacionais, e muitas vezes solicita antes do tratamento cirúrgico da IU feminina. A indicação desse exame na abordagem inicial da bexiga hiperativa idiopática deve ser revisada pelos participantes.(AU)

The geriatric incontinence syndrome: Characterizing geriatric incontinence in older women.

OBJECTIVES: Among older women, the clinical presentation of urinary incontinence (UI) is heterogeneous; presenting as a pelvic floor condition or geriatric syndrome. We aimed to characterize the geriatric incontinence syndrome (GIS) to establish its foundation in clinical practice. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Geriatric Clinical Research Unit. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-one community-dwelling women aged 70 and older with bothersome UI symptoms. MEASUREMENTS: UI symptom type and severity were determined by 3-day bladder diary. UI severity was defined; moderate UI defined as <2 UI episodes/day and severe UI defined as ≥2 UI episodes/day. Subjective assessment of physical performance was determined using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) score. Total SPPB scores >9 define normal physical performance and scores ≤9 defined impaired physical performance. RESULTS: The average age was 77.1 ± 5.8 (mean ± SD) years; 69% of women had severe UI and 31% had moderate UI. Demographic characteristics were similar between groups. Daytime voiding frequency was 7.1 ± 2.9 and nocturia was present equally between groups. The majority of women (59%) with severe UI had SPPB ≤9 compared with 26% among women with moderate UI (p = 0.02); featuring significantly slower chair stand scores (2.3 ± 1.4 vs 3.3 ± 0.9, p = 0.007) and gait speed (0.08 ± 0.2 m/s compared with 1.0 ± 0.2 in women with moderate UI). CONCLUSIONS: A multifactorial GIS may be present in older women evidenced by the co-existence of severe UI, physical disability, slower chair stand pace, and gait speed. Prospective studies are needed to understand how these clinical features may impact the clinical care of older incontinent women.

Physiotherapy according to the BeBo Concept as prophylaxis and treatment of urinary incontinence in women after natural childbirth.

Pelvic floor muscle dysfunctions can lead to urinary incontinence, a condition which often affects women both during pregnancy and after childbirth. As a result of this, certain exercises are recommended during and after pregnancy to prevent and treat this incontinence, and the BeBo Concept is one of these methods used to prevent pelvic floor muscle dysfunction. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of a 6-week course of physical therapy according to the BeBo Concept on the improvement of perineal muscle strength and endurance as well as urinary continence in women after their first vaginal delivery. The study was conducted on a group of 56 women who were randomly assigned to the exercise (n = 30) or control (n = 26) group. The exercising group participated in a 6-week physical therapy program according to the BeBo Concept. Pelvic floor muscles were assessed using the perineometer and palpation Perfect Test. UDI6 and ICIQ-SF questionnaires were used to obtain information about the symptoms of urinary incontinence, evaluate the frequency, severity and impact of urine leakage on the quality of life. In all women after natural childbirth, regardless of treatment, it was observed that measured parameters improved, but the improvement was slightly more explicit in those who participated in the Bebo Concept exercise group (e.g. ICIQ-SF exercise group p = 0.001, control group p = 0.035). Due to its positive impact on the pelvic floor, this exercise program should be recommended to women after natural childbirth.

Urinary Incontinence after Planned Cesarean Hysterectomy for Placenta Accreta.

INTRODUCTION: Data regarding the risk of incontinence after cesarean hysterectomy are lacking. We aimed to assess the risk of urinary incontinence in women who underwent planned cesarean hysterectomy for placenta accreta. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of women who underwent planned cesarean hysterectomy for placenta accreta. The primary outcome was the incidence of post-cesarean hysterectomy urinary incontinence, defined as involuntary loss of urine between 3 and 12 months after cesarean hysterectomy. Outcomes were compared in a cohort of women who underwent planned cesarean hysterectomy for placenta accreta with a control group of women who underwent scheduled cesarean section without hysterectomy. RESULTS: Forty-seven singleton gestations who underwent planned cesarean hysterectomy for placenta accrete were included in the study and were compared with 100 controls. Eight cases of bladder injuries were reported, 7 in the planned cesarean hysterectomy group and one in the planned cesarean delivery group. Overall, urinary incontinence was reported in 10 women of the planned cesarean hysterectomy group and in 8 women of the planned cesarean section group (21.3% vs. 8.0%; p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Planned cesarean hysterectomy for placenta accreta is a risk factor for urinary incontinence.

A Qualitative Study on the Experience and Training Needs of ICU Nurses for Incontinence-Associated Dermatitis.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the experience of incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD) as perceived by nurses, obstacles in the nursing process, and need for IAD training and management. METHODS: This single-setting descriptive qualitative study was conducted from June 5, 2018, to June 22, 2018. Ten nurses working in the respiratory ICU of a local hospital participated in semistructured interviews. The content analysis method was used to analyze, summarize, and refine the interview data. RESULTS: The experience of ICU nurses with IAD can be divided into four types: nursing based on experiential knowledge, seeking self-improvement, disunity of cleaning methods and wiping skills, and postponement of nursing care because of priority allocation. Obstacles in the nursing process include a lack of relevant nursing knowledge and awareness, as well as the medical supplies needed. The goals of training and management include establishing IAD preventive nursing procedures, providing IAD care products, enhancing the practicality of training content and diversifying training methods, and establishing an information system to assist nurses caring for patients with IAD. CONCLUSIONS: The knowledge and behavior of ICU nurses regarding IAD need to be improved. Training and management are imperative. Facilities and nurse managers should actively seek solutions to stated obstacles, formulate training methods suitable for clinical needs, and promote the standardization of nursing for IAD.

Functional roles for PIEZO1 and PIEZO2 in urothelial mechanotransduction and lower urinary tract interoception.

The mechanisms that link visceral mechanosensation to the perception of internal organ status (i.e., interoception) remain elusive. In response to bladder filling, the urothelium releases ATP, which is hypothesized to stimulate voiding function by communicating the degree of bladder fullness to subjacent tissues, including afferent nerve fibers. To determine if PIEZO channels function as mechanosensors in these events, we generated conditional urothelial Piezo1-, Piezo2-, and dual Piezo1/2-knockout (KO) mice. While functional PIEZO1 channels were expressed in all urothelial cell layers, Piezo1-KO mice had a limited phenotype. Piezo2 expression was limited to a small subset of superficial umbrella cells, yet male Piezo2-KO mice exhibited incontinence (i.e., leakage) when their voiding behavior was monitored during their active dark phase. Dual Piezo1/2-KO mice had the most affected phenotype, characterized by decreased urothelial responses to mechanical stimulation, diminished ATP release, bladder hypoactivity in anesthetized Piezo1/2-KO females but not males, and urinary incontinence in both male and female Piezo1/2-KO mice during their dark phase but not inactive light one. Our studies reveal that the urothelium functions in a sex- and circadian rhythm-dependent manner to link urothelial PIEZO1/2 channel-driven mechanotransduction to normal voiding function and behavior, and in the absence of these signals, bladder dysfunction ensues.

Evaluation of quality and reliability of YouTube videos on female urinary incontinence.

OBJECTIVES: Women often feel embarrassed about urinary incontinence, hesitate to see a doctor and search the internet to gain information on the disease. The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of the most viewed YouTube™ pertaining to female urinary incontinence. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty videos that met the inclusion criteria were assessed by two urologists through Quality Criteria for Consumer Health Information (DISCERN), Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) and Video Power Index (VPI) scoring systems. Videos' image type, video uploaders, general content, length, view counts, date of uploading, comment, like and dislike counts were also recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: Forty videos included real and 20 animation images. Nine videos were uploaded directly by physicians, 32 videos by health channels, 14 videos by hospital channels, 2 videos by herbalists and 3 videos by other sources. The mean comment, like and dislike counts of the videos were found as 49.4 ± 172.9, 642.5 ± 2,112.9 and 66.7 ± 192.4. The mean DISCERN score was found as 38.2 ± 11.5, JAMA score as 1.4 ± 0.6 and VPI score as 85.1 ± 12.1. There was no significant difference between physicians and non-physicians and between real and animated videos in terms of DISCERN and JAMA scores (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The quality of the videos on YouTube™ pertaining to female urinary incontinence was at an average level. Healthcare professionals should be encouraged for uploading more accurate quality health related contents. Policy makers should develop policies for supervision of the videos uploaded on the internet.

Symptomatic pelvic floor disorders and its associated factors in South-Central Ethiopia.

INTRODUCTION: Pelvic floor disorders (PFD) are gynecologic health problems containing a wide variety of clinical problems; the most prevalent problems are pelvic organ prolapse, fecal incontinence, and urinary incontinence. It is a significant women's health problem for both developed and developing countries. One in five women in Ethiopia experiences at least one major type of pelvic floor disorders. Despite the severity of the problem, due attention was not given, and no study has been conducted on pelvic floor disorders in the Gurage Zone. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and associated factors of symptomatic pelvic floor disorders among women living in Gurage Zone, SNNPR, Ethiopia, 2020. METHODOLOGY: Community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February to March 2020 among 542 women residing in the Gurage Zone. A multi-stage sampling method was used to select the participants. Interviewer administered, pretested questionnaires containing questions related to pelvic organ prolapse, urinary, and fecal incontinence was used. The urinary incontinence severity index questionnaire was used to assess the severity of urinary incontinence. Epi-Info x7 was used to record data, and SPSS was used to analyze the data. Binary logistic regression with 95% CI was used to explore the relationship between PFD and other independent variables. After multivariable logistic regression analysis variables with P-value less than 0.05 was used to determine significant association. RESULT: A total of 542 participants were included in this study. Overall, 41.1% of the participants reported one or more symptoms of pelvic floor disorders. Urinary incontinence had the highest prevalence (32.8%), followed by pelvic organ prolapse (25.5%) and fecal incontinence (4.2%). History of weight lifting >10 Kg (AOR = 3.38; 95% CI: 1.99, 5.72), ≥5 vaginal delivery (AOR = 11.18; 95% CI: 1.53, 81.58), and being in menopause (AOR = 3.37; 95% CI: 1.40, 8.07) were identified as possible contributing factors in the development of a pelvic floor disorders. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of symptomatic PFD was higher compared to other similar studies in Ethiopia. Heavy weight lifting, repetitive vaginal deliveries and menopause were factors significantly associated with PFD. Expansion of technologies and building basic infrastructures, health education on kegel exercise and promotion of family planning should be considered as a prevention strategy.

Is There a Difference in Whole Body Standing Posture in Women With Urinary Incontinence Based on the Presence of Myofascial Dysfunction in the Pelvic Floor Muscles?

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of postural changes in women who had urinary incontinence (UI) with myofascial dysfunction (MD) and women who had UI without MD in the pelvic floor muscles (PFM). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed with 234 women who had UI and were at least 18 years old at the urogynecology outpatient clinic of a tertiary academic hospital. The International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form and the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Overactive Bladder were used to collect urinary data. Standing postural assessment was performed using photogrammetry in anterior, posterior, and right and left lateral views and was analyzed with Postural Assessment Software. MD was defined as pain of any intensity during palpation of the PFM, and the strength of these muscles was evaluated using the Modified Oxford Scale. RESULTS: The prevalence of MD in women with UI was 51.7% (121/234). Women with MD had significantly smaller angles in the horizontal alignment of the pelvis in the right-side view (mean [SD] = -11.9 [6.9] degrees and -9.6 [7.1] degrees), left-side view (-13.6 [6] degrees and -11.5 [6.6] degrees), and vertical alignment of the body in the left-side view (3 [1.5] degrees and 3.4 [1.5] degrees), showing anterior pelvic tilt and posterior displacement of the body. CONCLUSION: Women with UI and MD had greater anterior pelvic tilt and posterior displacement of the body than women without dysfunction. IMPACT: This study informs physical therapists and other health care professionals about the prevalence of MD in the pelvic floor muscles of women with UI and highlights the need to rule out MD, because it appears to be a concomitant impairment in women who self-report UI. During a postural screen, health care professionals should look for anterior pelvic tilt relative to horizon when evaluating posture in women with UI and MD. The findings of postural changes in women with MD and UI may influence the PFM assessment. LAY SUMMARY: Women with involuntary urinary loss, pain, and stiffness in the pelvic area may show changes in posture associated with this condition.

Characteristics Associated With Treatment Failure 1 Year After Midurethral Sling in Women With Mixed Urinary Incontinence.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate characteristics associated with treatment failure 1 year after midurethral sling in women with mixed urinary incontinence. METHODS: Four-hundred three women who participated in a randomized trial that compared midurethral sling and behavioral and pelvic floor muscle therapy (combined group) compared with midurethral sling alone for mixed incontinence with 1-year follow-up data were eligible for this planned secondary analysis. Overall treatment failure was defined as meeting criteria for subjective or objective failure or both. Subjective failure was defined as not meeting the minimal clinical important difference for improvement on the UDI (Urogenital Distress Inventory) total score (26.1 points). Objective failure was defined as not achieving 70% improvement on mean incontinence episodes of any type per day or having undergone any additional treatment for persistent urinary symptoms at 12 months postoperative. Logistic regression models for treatment failure were constructed. Independent variables included site and treatment group, and clinical and demographic variables based on bivariate comparisons (P<.2). Treatment group interaction effects were evaluated. RESULTS: One hundred twelve of 379 (29.6%) women had overall treatment failure, with 56 of 379 (14.7%) undergoing additional treatment but only two needing intervention for stress incontinence. Previous overactive bladder (OAB) medication (unadjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.19, adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.96, 95% CI 1.17-3.31); detrusor overactivity on cystometrogram (OR 2.25, aOR 2.82, 95% CI 1.60-4.97); and higher volume at first urge (OR 1.03, aOR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.07) were associated with overall failure. Worse UDI-urgency scores were associated with failure, with an added interaction effect in the midurethral sling-alone group. CONCLUSIONS: Certain clinical and urodynamic variables are associated with treatment failure after midurethral sling in women with mixed urinary incontinence. Women with more severe urgency symptoms at baseline may benefit from perioperative behavioral and pelvic floor muscle therapy combined with midurethral sling. Overall, the need for additional urinary treatment was low and primarily for OAB. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01959347.

Youtube videos as an information source about urinary incontinence.

AIM: Youtube is one of the most popular video-sharing websites, and people use Youtube as a source of information. Patients with urinary incontinence may seek information about their condition on Youtube. This study aims to assess the videos on Youtube about urinary incontinence and evaluate the information regarding whether patients can understand and/or act accordingly. METHODS: We performed a Youtube search with the keywords of "incontinence," "urinary incontinence," and "overactive bladder" in the English language with the incognito mode on the browser. All links were extracted and recorded in an excel file. Duplicated links were removed, and metadata of the videos were collected. A custom python language script was used to perform this operation. We selected the most viewed 150 videos for the assessment. After removing the non-related videos, 112 of them were included in the study. Two researchers separately evaluated all the videos with the Patients Education Material Assessment Tool (PEMAT, audiovisual version). RESULTS: The total duration of all included (n:112) videos was 12.6 hours, and these videos had been watched 37,332,178 times until the query date. The vast majority of the videos were about information, management, and treatment options (Kegel exercises, surgery modalities) of incontinence, individual experiences of patients with incontinence, commercials about the diapers, and healthcare professionals who wanted to introduce themselves or their services. Mean understandability and actionability scores of the videos were 57.9% and, 44.7% respectively. Our analysis showed that only 12.5% of the videos on Youtube related to incontinence were understandable, as well as actionable, in terms of PEMAT scores. CONCLUSION: According to our study, 87.5% of the videos about incontinence on Youtube.com in the English language were not understandable and actionable for users. Development of high-quality content about incontinence is needed.