Summary Paper on Underactive Bladder from the European Association of Urology Guidelines on Non-neurogenic Male Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The European Association of Urology (EAU) Guidelines Panel on non-neurogenic male lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) aimed to develop a new subchapter on underactive bladder (UAB) in non-neurogenic men to inform health care providers of current best evidence and practice. Here, we present a summary of the UAB subchapter that is incorporated into the 2024 version of the EAU guidelines on non-neurogenic male LUTS. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted from 2002 to 2022, and articles with the highest certainty evidence were selected. A strength rating has been provided for each recommendation according to the EAU Guideline Office methodology. KEY FINDINGS AND LIMITATIONS: Detrusor underactivity (DU) is a urodynamic diagnosis defined as a contraction of reduced strength and/or duration, resulting in prolonged bladder emptying and/or failure to achieve complete bladder emptying within a normal time span. UAB is a terminology that should be reserved for describing symptoms and clinical features related to DU. Invasive urodynamics is the only widely accepted method for diagnosing DU. In patients with persistently elevated postvoid residual (ie, >300 ml), intermittent catheterization is indicated and preferred to indwelling catheters. Alpha-adrenergic blockers are recommended before more invasive techniques, but the level of evidence is low. In men with DU and concomitant benign prostatic obstruction (BPO), benign prostatic surgery should be considered only after appropriate counseling. In men with DU and no BPO, a test phase of sacral neuromodulation may be considered. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The current text represents a summary of the new subchapter on UAB. For more detailed information, refer to the full-text version available on the EAU website (https://uroweb.org/guidelines/management-of-non-neurogenic-male-luts).

Is detrusor overactivity with detrusor underactivity limited to the elderly?

OBJECTIVE: Detrusor overactivity with detrusor underactivity (DO-DU) is classically described in frail institutionalized elderly patients, but we have also observed this diagnosis in younger populations. This research aims to identify the differences between two age groups of DO-DU patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included DO-DU patients from a single center from 2012 to 2023. Patients were divided into two groups: the "Younger" group (aged less than 70 years) and the "Older" group (aged 70 years or older). We separately compared demographics, the number of risk factors considered to affect bladder function, clinical presentations, and urodynamic findings between these two groups in each gender. RESULTS: There were 210 patients included in the analysis, with 50.48% in the younger group and 49.52% in the older group. The median ages of males and females in the younger group were 57 and 62 years, whereas the median ages of males and females in the older group were 76.5 and 76 years. Multiple sclerosis exhibited statistically significant prevalence in the younger patients (7.7% vs. 0%, p = 0.03 in males and 19.9% vs. 4.6% in females). While diabetes mellitus (DM) was more prevalent in the older males (20.0% vs. 4.6%, p = 0.01), transabdominal hysterectomy was more common in the younger females (46.3% vs. 25%, p = 0.04). 69.8% of the younger group and 71.2% of the older group have at least one risk factor that impact their bladder function. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups across various risk factor categories. The older males reported a higher incidence of urgency (78.3% vs. 58.5%, p = 0.02) and urge incontinence (61.7% vs. 32.3%, p < 0.01), while the younger females reported a higher incidence of straining during voiding on history (46.3% vs. 20.5%, p = 0.01). The younger males exhibited a greater volume of strong desire to void (385 vs. 300 mL, p = 0.01), maximal cystometric capacity (410 vs. 300 mL, p < 0.01), and a lower highest detrusor overactivity (DO) pressure (37 vs. 50.5 cmH2O, p = 0.02). The younger group had a higher postvoid residual (170 vs. 85 mL in males, p < 0.01 and 180 vs. 120 mL in females, p = 0.02). The voiding efficiency was lower in younger females (40% vs. 60%, p = 0.02). In both ages, the ICS detrusor contraction index and projected isovolumetric pressure 1 were similar. However, without considering risk factors, the older males had the highest DO pressure (57 vs. 29 cmH2O, p < 0.01), and the younger males had a higher voiding pressure (PdetQmax) than the older males (28 vs. 20 cmH2O, p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: DO-DU is not exclusive to elderly patients. It can also be diagnosed in individuals with risk factors regardless of age; therefore, clinicians need a high degree of suspicion, especially in patients who have risk factor(s) for DO and DU. A notable clinical differentiation is that older males diagnosed with DO-DU have a higher incidence of urgency and urge urinary incontinence, while younger females have a higher incidence of straining.

Novel clinical diagnostic criteria based on noninvasive examination findings to predict the presence of urodynamic detrusor underactivity in men.

AIMS: To investigate the usefulness of novel clinical diagnostic criteria based on noninvasive examination findings to diagnose urodynamic detrusor underactivity (DU) in men. METHODS: We developed clinical diagnostic criteria to predict the presence of urodynamic DU in men as follows: (a) bladder voiding efficiency <70% on uroflowmetry, (b) existence of "sawtooth and interrupted waveforms" on uroflowmetry, and (c) ultrasonography-documented intravesical prostatic protrusion <10 mm. We analyzed the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of these clinical criteria for diagnosing urodynamic DU in men aged 50 years or above with lower urinary tract symptoms who underwent urodynamic studies. RESULTS: Of the 314 men analyzed (mean age, 72.4 years; mean detrusor contraction index [DCI], 98.8; and mean bladder outlet obstruction index [BOOI], 43.9), 89 men met this clinical DU diagnostic criteria. Of these, 79 men (88.8%) had urodynamic DU (DCI < 100 and BOOI < 40), nine (10.1%) had DU + BOO (DCI < 100 and BOOI ≥ 40), and one (1.1%) had normal voiding functions. None of the men with urodynamic BOO (DCI ≥ 100 and BOOI ≥ 40) met the clinical DU diagnostic criteria. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of these clinical diagnostic criteria for urodynamic DU were 69.3%, 95.0%, 88.8%, and 84.4%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The proposed clinical DU diagnostic criteria showed a high PPV (88.8%) for diagnosing urodynamic DU. None of the patients with BOO met the clinical diagnostic criteria for DU. These clinical DU diagnostic criteria may be useful in identifying men with urodynamic DU in clinical practice.

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

INTRODUCTION: Overactive bladder (OAB) and Underactive bladder (UAB) could be associated with metabolic syndrome, affective disorders, sex hormone deficiency, changes in urinary microbiota, functional gastrointestinal disorders, or autonomic nervous system dysfunction. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this Think Tank was to provide a guide on how to investigate OAB and/or detrusor underactivity (DU) patients to better clarify the underlying pathophysiology and possibly personalize the treatment. METHODS: A compendium of discussion based on the current evidence related to phenotyping patients with OAB or DU investigating metabolic, neurogical, psychological and gastrointestinal aspects with the aim to personalize the treatment. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The article emphasizes the critical significance of adopting a comprehensive yet tailored approach to phenotyping patients with lower urinary tract symptoms, such as OAB and UAB. The intricate interplay between the lower urinary tract and various factors, metabolic, neurological, psychological, and gastrointestinal can define unique LUT profiles, enabling personalized therapies to replace the one-size-fits-all approach.

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

INTRODUCTION: Overactive bladder (OAB) and underactive bladder (UAB) could be associated with metabolic syndrome, affective disorders, sex hormone deficiency, changes in urinary microbiota, functional gastrointestinal disorders, or autonomic nervous system dysfunction. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this Think Tank was to provide a guide on how to investigate OAB and/or detrusor underactivity (DU) patients to better clarify the underlying pathophysiology and possibly personalize the treatment. METHODS: A compendium of discussion based on the current evidence related to phenotyping patients with OAB or DU using urodynamic tests, functional neuro-imaging, urinary markers, and microbiome. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The article emphasizes the critical significance of adopting a comprehensive yet tailored approach to phenotyping patients with lower urinary tract (LUT) symptoms, such as OAB and UAB. The intricate interplay between the LUT and various factors, metabolic, neurological, psychological, and gastrointestinal can define unique LUT profiles, enabling personalized therapies to replace the one-size-fits-all approach.

Can we predict whether a man with acute or chronic urinary retention will void after bladder outflow resistance reduction surgery? ICI-RS 2023.

AIMS: To address the predictive factors of a successful voiding after bladder outflow resistance reduction surgery (BORRS) in men presenting with acute or chronic urinary retention (UR). METHODS: A think tank (TT) of ICI-RS was gathered in 2023, Bristol, UK, to discuss several aspects of the problem, such as the pathophysiology of UR, the clinical and urodynamic evaluation of men with UR and whether it is possible to predict which men will be able to successfully void after treatment with contemporary surgical options. RESULTS: The TT agreed that successful voiding after BORRS depends on several factors but that a strong recommendation cannot be made regarding preoperative evaluation and whether there are predictive factors of success because of the heterogeneity of patients and methodology in published trials. The diagnosis of obstruction in men with UR may be challenging when there is apparent reduced detrusor contraction during urodynamic studies. Even in the absence of bladder contractility there is documentation of such cases that have voided adequately after BORRS. Still, detrusor underactivity and inadequate relief of prostatic obstruction are the main causes of an unsuccessful voiding after BORRS. Conventional resection and enucleation methods remain the most successful surgeries in relieving UR in men, whereas the efficacy of minimally invasive surgical treatments needs to be assessed further. CONCLUSION: Research is needed to understand the pathophysiology of UR and the predictors of successful voiding after different types of BORRS in men with UR.

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

PURPOSE: While detrusor overactivity (DO) with detrusor underactivity (DU) (DO-DU) has been described as typical of aging, the pathogenesis of DO-DU is highly multifactorial, and often thought to involve medical conditions beyond the urinary tract. We aimed to explore potential associations between idiopathic DO-DU and frailty in older women after accounting for age. METHODS: The design of the study is a cross-sectional single-center study, in an outpatient urodynamic unit specializing in geriatrics. Participants are consecutive female patients aged ≥65 years without contributory neurological conditions or bladder outlet obstruction who completed a comprehensive geriatric assessment followed by urodynamic evaluation from 2015 to 2019. Participants were categorized as having DO, DU, combined DO-DU, or a negative study. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between urodynamic outcomes and frailty, as quantified using the Frailty index (FI). RESULTS: Ninety-five patients were included (median age 78 [interquartile range: 70-83] years), among whom 29% had combined DO-DU. The median FI score was 0.27 (0.2-0.32) (5-12). A higher FI was associated with significantly greater age-adjusted odds of DO-DU when either DU or subjects with a negative urodynamic assessment were used as the reference group. Age was not significantly associated with DO-DU across all multivariable analyses. CONCLUSION: A higher FI was associated with an increased likelihood of DO-DU, which could not be attributed to the effect of age alone. The pathogenesis of DO-DU is likely more complex than chronological aging in and of itself and merits further study.

Underactive Bladder and Detrusor Underactivity: New Advances and Prospectives.

Underactive bladder (UAB) is a prevalent but under-researched lower urinary tract symptom that typically occurs alongside detrusor underactivity (DU). Unlike UAB, DU is a urodynamic diagnosis which the International Continence Society (ICS) defines as "a contraction of reduced strength and/or duration, resulting in prolonged bladder emptying and/or a failure to achieve complete bladder emptying within a normal time span". Despite the widespread prevalence of UAB/DU, there are significant gaps in our understanding of its pathophysiological mechanisms, diagnosis, and treatment compared with overactive bladder (OAB) and detrusor overactivity (DO). These gaps are such that clinicians regard UAB/DU as an incurable condition. In recent years, the understanding of UAB has increased. The definition of UAB has been clarified, and the diagnostic criteria for DU have been considered more comprehensively. Meanwhile, a number of non-invasive diagnostic methods have also been reported. Clinical trials involving novel drugs, electrical stimulation, and stem cell therapy have shown promising results. Therefore, this review summarizes recent reports on UAB and DU and highlights the latest advances in their diagnosis and treatment.

Adiponectin can be a good predictor of urodynamic detrusor underactivity: a prospective study in men with lower urinary tract symptoms.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether circulating adiponectin, which is considered a possible marker of anti-atherogenic effects, is a useful predictor of bladder function, especially detrusor underactivity (DU), in men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). METHODS: A total of 130 treatment-naïve men with non-neurogenic LUTS were prospectively stratified into two groups (the DU and non-DU groups) based on the presence or absence of DU, where DU is defined as a bladder contractility index < 100 and bladder outlet obstruction index (BOOI) < 40. The impact of serum adiponectin levels on urodynamic function, including DU, was assessed using univariate, binomial logistic regression, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses. RESULTS: In total, data from 118 men were analyzed; 39 (33.0%) had DU (DU group) and 79 (67.0%) did not have DU (non-DU group). The median serum adiponectin in the DU group was significantly lower than in the non-DU group (6.2 vs 12.6 µg/mL, p < 0.001). In the binomial logistic regression analysis, lower adiponectin, smaller intravesical prostatic protrusion, and lower bladder voiding efficiency were significant factors related to DU. In the ROC analyses, serum adiponectin had the highest area under the curve value for DU diagnosis (0.849). Additionally, a cutoff value of 7.9 µg/mL for serum adiponectin level was identified for DU, which yielded a sensitivity and specificity of 79% and 90%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The serum adiponectin level was significantly associated with bladder function and may be a useful marker for predicting DU in men with LUTS.

Underactive Bladder Versus Bladder Outlet Obstruction: Don't Get Tricked!

It is not possible to diagnose the cause of voiding difficulty on the basis of a history alone. Bladder underactivity and bladder outlet obstruction cause similar voiding symptoms and also can be associated with storage symptoms. In this mini-review, we consider the factors associated with making a symptomatic diagnosis of either underactive bladder or bladder outlet obstruction. PATIENT SUMMARY: There is overlapping of symptoms for different urinary problems. To differentiate between underactive bladder and bladder outlet obstruction as the underlying cause of lower urinary tract symptoms, an invasive urodynamic study of the bladder is often required.

Urodynamic Curve Patterns may Predict Female Bladder Outlet Obstruction and Detrusor Underactivity.

OBJECTIVE: To search for independent predictors for distinguishing bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) and detrusor underactivity (DU) in female patients with voiding difficulty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective patient file review was performed of 918 female patients with lower urinary tract symptoms. After exclusion criteria, 148 patients with voiding difficulty were eligible for the study. Patients were classified as having BOO and DU based on urodynamic BOO and DU definitions. The symptoms, patient characteristics, the patterns of free urine flow, and detrusor voiding pressure curves were compared between 2 groups. RESULTS: Of 148 patients with a median age of 53 (18-86), 42 (28,4%), 37 (25%), 69 (46,6%) patients had a urodynamic diagnosis of BOO, DU, and unclassified P/F study respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis results showed that the symptom of weak urine stream [P = .015 OR = 7.07 CI(1,47-34,0)], the negative provocative stress test [P = .038 OR = 7.32 CI(1,12-47,83)], the continuous detrusor voiding pressure and the prolonged/tailed shaped free urine flow curve patterns [P < .001 OR = 2,99 CI(1,66-5,38)] were the independent predictors of BOO. Sensitivity and specifity values for prolonged/tailed to predict BOO were 82.5 and 60% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The continuous detrusor voiding pressure and the prolonged/tailed shaped free urine flow curve patterns were found to be useful independent predictors for distinguishing BOO from DU in female patients with voiding difficulty. In addition, the symptom of weak urine stream, and the negative provocative stress test may be of beneficial use.

De Novo Detrusor Underactivity and Other Urodynamic Findings after Radical Prostatectomy: A Systematic Review.

Background and objectives: The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate the impact of radical prostatectomy (RP) on bladder function, with special attention towards detrusor underactivity investigated with the means of urodynamic evaluation. Materials and Methods: The review was performed in accordance with the PRISMA statement and was registered in the PROSPERO (ID#: CRD42020223480). The studied population was limited to men with prostate cancer who underwent urodynamic study prior to and after radical prostatectomy. Eight hundred twenty-seven studies were screened, with twenty-five finally included. A qualitative analysis was performed. Rates of detrusor underactivity (DU) before surgery were reported in eight studies and ranged from 1.6% to 75% (median of 40.8%). DU occurred de novo after RP in 9.1% to 37% of patients (median of 29.1%). On the other hand, preexisting DU resolved in 7% to 35.5% of affected men. Detrusor overactivity (DO) was the most frequently reported outcome, being assessed in 23 studies. The rate of DO preoperatively was from 5% to 76% (median of 25%). De novo was reported in 2.3-54.4% of patients (median of 15%) and resolved after RP in 19.6% to 87.5% (median of 33%) of affected patients. Baseline rates of bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) varied between studies from 19% to 59.3%, with a median of 27.8%. The most pronounced change after surgery was the resolution of BOO in 88% to 93.8% (median of 92%) of affected patients. Results: Rates of de novo impaired bladder compliance (IBC) varied from 3.2% to 41.3% (median of 13.3%), whereas the resolution of IBC was reported with rates ranging from 0% to 47% (median of 4.8%). Conclusions: BOO, DO, and DU are frequently diagnosed in men scheduled for RP. BOO is improved after RP in most patients; however, there is still a substantial rate of patients with de novo DU as well as DO which may impair functional outcomes and quality of life.

Significance of a decrease in the proportion of detrusor muscle to bladder wall for non-invasive diagnosis of detrusor underactivity in men with lower urinary tract symptoms.

To investigate the significance of detrusor muscle thickness (DMT) to bladder wall thickness (BWT) ratio as a detrusor-sarcopenia and a consistently applicable factor for noninvasive diagnosis of detrusor underactivity (DU). We prospectively performed a urodynamic study of 100 male with medical refractory lower-urinary-tract-symptoms during 2017-2019. The DMT, BWT and DMT/BWT ratio were measured by ultrasonography every 50 mL during bladder filling, and were analyzed for non-invasive diagnosis of DU and prediction of prostate surgery outcome with questionnaire and the maximum-flow-rate. Of the 94 patients, DU was urodynamically diagnosed in 24 (25.5%). The DMT/BWT ratio was maintained in all patients until the 50% of the maximum cystometric capacity (MCC), and then rapidly decreased. At 20% of the MCC, the DMT/BWT ratio was significantly lower in the DU group (44.0 ± 4.9% vs. 49.4 ± 6.7%, p = 0.008). The DMT/BWT ratio of less than 47.5% at 20% of the MCC showed the ideal accuracy for diagnosing DU (AUC = 0.763), and was a predictor of failure at 12 months after prostate surgery (OR 8.78, p = 0.024). A DMT/BWT ratio of less than 47.5% at 20% of the MCC is a consistently applicable factor for non-invasive diagnosis of DU and could also be considered detrusor-sarcopenia.

Clinical features of detrusor underactivity in elderly men without neurological disorders.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical features of detrusor underactivity (DU) in elderly men without neurological disorders. METHODS: A total of 336 men aged ≥50 years without neurogenic disorders who underwent pressure flow studies and who had DU or bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) were reviewed retrospectively. According to the bladder contractility index (BCI) and the BOO index (BOOI), the subjects were classified into the following three groups: (a) pure DU group, BCI < 100 and BOOI < 40; (b) DU + BOO group, BCI < 100 and BOOI ≥ 40; and (c) pure BOO group, BCI ≥ 100 and BOOI ≥ 40. Subjective and objective parameters were compared among the three groups, and the predictors for pure DU were evaluated by multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Of the 336 patients, 205 who met the study criteria were included in the analysis: 63 (30.7%) with pure DU, 48 (23.4%) with DU + BOO, and 94 (45.9%) with pure BOO. The proportion of the pure DU group increased with increasing age. Prostate volume was the lowest in the pure DU group. Frequency, urgency on the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), and the IPSS storage subscore were the lowest in the pure DU group. Multivariate analysis showed that age (odds ratio [OR] 1.114 [95% CI, 1.032-1.203], P = .005), prostate volume (OR 0.968 [95% CI, 0.949-0.987], P = .001), and urgency (OR 0.623 [95% CI, 0.431-0.900], P = .012) were predictors of pure DU. CONCLUSION: Older age, smaller prostate volume, and less urgency may be clinical features of pure DU.

A comparison of flow rate curve shape and video-urodynamic findings in women with lower urinary tract symptoms: can flow rate curve shape predict female bladder outflow obstruction or detrusor underactivity?

PURPOSE: To establish the correlation between flow rate curve shape and video-urodynamic findings in women with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). METHODS: A retrospective review of consecutive women with LUTS who performed a free flow study immediately before undergoing video-urodynamic investigations over a 28-month period. Flow rate curve shape and video-urodynamic parameters were analysed. Free flow curves were defined into five categories: bell-shaped, prolonged, fluctuating, intermittent or plateau. Women who voided less than 150 ml on the free flow study were excluded from the analysis. RESULTS: A total of 250 women with LUTS, with a mean age 48 years (range 18-83), were included. Bell-shaped tracings excluded obstruction in 89%. Prolonged flow rate curves diagnosed obstruction in 62% and detrusor underactivity in 8%. Fluctuating and intermittent flow rate curves were associated with urodynamic obstruction in 37 and 39%, respectively, and detrusor underactivity in 25 and 29%, respectively. A plateau flow rate curve was indicative of urodynamic obstruction in all three cases observed. CONCLUSION: Flow rate curve patterns can be suggestive of urodynamic diagnoses. Women without a prolonged void and bell-shaped traces had normal voiding urodynamics in 76% of cases, and the majority could be managed without invasive investigations. Patients with fluctuating and intermittent flow rate curves demonstrate a spectrum of urodynamic diagnoses with a third of cases having obstruction and a third of cases having detrusor underactivity. Plateau flow rate curve patterns are associated with urethral obstruction.

Symptoms and noninvasive test parameters that clinically differentiate detrusor underactivity from bladder outlet obstruction without a pressure-flow-based diagnosis in men with lower urinary tract symptoms.

AIM: To examine the symptoms and noninvasive test parameters that clinically differentiate detrusor underactivity (DU) from bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) without using a pressure-flow study (PFS) in male patients with lower urinary tract symptoms. METHODS: We examined 909 men who underwent PFS and also had the following data: International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), free uroflowmetry, postvoid residual (PVR), and prostate volume (PV). Using these data, significant symptoms and noninvasive test parameters that clinically differentiate DU from BOO were examined. RESULTS: Significant parameters between DU patients and BOO patients were older age, smaller PV, and lower urgency symptom score (IPSS Q4). Optimal cutoff values were determined using receiver operating characteristic curves (≥74 years old, PV ≤ 34.8, and IPSS Q4 ≤ 1) and patients were categorized on the basis of the number of significant factors. The probability of DU or BOO in patients with three significant factors were 77% and 34%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Three factors (older age, smaller PV, and fewer urgency symptom) were the predictive factors to differentiate DU from BOO, which might be useful for estimating the probability of DU in clinical practice without a PFS.