Clinical tools for evaluating the severity of overactive bladder: A systematic review of psychometric properties.

OBJECTIVES: To systematically evaluate the evidence describing the psychometric properties of clinical measures for assessing overactive bladder symptoms (urinary urgency with or without urge urinary incontinence, urinary frequency and nocturia). To evaluate the quality of this evidence-base using the COnsensus-based Standards for selecting health status Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) tools. DATA SOURCES: Five electronic databases (CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Scopus and Web of Science) were searched from dataset inception to August 2023. REVIEW METHODS: Study screening, data extraction and quality appraisal were performed by two independent authors. Inclusion criteria were studies testing one or more psychometric properties of clinical tools for the assessment of overactive bladder symptoms among adults aged 18 years and older for both sexes. The methodological quality and quality of the evidence were evaluated using the COSMIN checklist and GRADE tools, respectively. RESULTS: The search identified 40 studies totalling 10,634 participants evaluating the psychometric properties of 15 clinical tools. The COSMIN methodological quality was rated good for most measures, and the GRADE quality of evidence ranged from low (13%) to high (33%). The Overactive Bladder Symptom Score, Overactive Bladder Questionnaire and Neurogenic Bladder Symptom Score were of good methodological and high-GRADE evidence qualities. CONCLUSION: Overactive Bladder Symptom Score, the Overactive Bladder Questionnaire and the Neurogenic Bladder Symptoms Score are promising psychometrically sound measures. The Overactive Bladder Symptom Score has been applied to the most culturally diverse populations supported by studies of good methodological and high-GRADE evidence quality.

Prevalence of Anxiety and Depression Among the General Population in Africa During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Medical and socio-economic uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic have had a substantial impact on mental health. This study aimed to systematically review the existing literature reporting the prevalence of anxiety and depression among the general populace in Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic and examine associated risk factors. Methods: A systematic search of the following databases African Journal Online, CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted from database inception until 30th September 2021. Studies reporting the prevalence of anxiety and/or depression among the general populace in African settings were considered for inclusion. The methodological quality of included studies was assessed using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Meta-analyses on prevalence rates were conducted using Comprehensive Meta-analysis software. Results: Seventy-eight primary studies (62,380 participants) were identified from 2,325 studies via electronic and manual searches. Pooled prevalence rates for anxiety (47%, 95% CI: 40-54%, I2 = 99.19%) and depression (48%, 95% CI: 39-57%, I2 = 99.45%) were reported across Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sex (female) and history of existing medical/chronic conditions were identified as major risk factors for anxiety and depression. Conclusions: The evidence put forth in this synthesis demonstrates the substantial impact of the pandemic on the pervasiveness of these psychological symptoms among the general population. Governments and stakeholders across continental Africa should therefore prioritize the allocation of available resources to institute educational programs and other intervention strategies for preventing and ameliorating universal distress and promoting psychological wellbeing. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021228023, PROSPERO CRD42021228023.

Effects of nonsurgical, minimally or noninvasive therapies for urinary incontinence due to neurogenic bladder: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To determine the effects of nonsurgical, minimally or noninvasive therapies on urge urinary incontinence (UUI) symptoms and quality of life (QoL) in individuals with neurogenic bladder (NGB). Data Sources: Cochrane library, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PEDro, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched from inception to September 2021. Review Methods: Randomized controlled trials that compared therapies such as intravaginal electrical stimulation (IVES), transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (TTNS), pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT), and behavioural therapy (BT) to control were included. Study screening, data extraction, and study quality assessments were performed by two independent authors. Results: Fourteen trials with 804 participants were included in the study after screening of 4281 potentially relevant articles. Meta-analyses revealed a significant effect of electrical stimulation on UUI due to multiple sclerosis (standardized mean difference (SMD): -0.614; 95% confidence interval (CI): -1.023, -0.206; p = 0.003) and stroke (SMD: -2.639; 95% CI: -3.804, -1.474; p = 0.000). The pooled analyses of TTNS (weighted mean difference (WMD): -12.406; 95% CI: -16.015, -8.797; p = 0.000) and BT (WMD: -9.117; 95% CI: -14.746, -3.487; p = 0.002) revealed significant effects of these interventions on QoL in people with Parkinson's disease. However, meta-analyses revealed nonsignificant effects for PFMT (WMD: -0.751; 95% CI: -2.426, 0.924; p = 0.380) and BT (WMD: -0.597; 95% CI: -1.278, 0.083; p = 0.085) on UUI due to Parkinson's disease. Conclusions: Our meta-analyses found electrical stimulation to be beneficial for improving the symptoms of UUI among people with multiple sclerosis and those with stroke. Our review also revealed that TTNS and BT might improve QoL for people with NGB due to Parkinson's disease, although the effects of PFMT and BT on UUI warrant further investigation.

Lung carcinoma: its profile and changing trends.

BACKGROUND: Lung Carcinoma is the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide with an incidence of 1.3 million cases per year. This study was undertaken to determine prevalence of various histological types of lung carcinoma and to analyse their changing trends with time. METHODS: This is a retrospective analytical study. A total of 330 cases of lung carcinoma were analysed from 2003 to 2008. Cases from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) were included in this study. Furthermore, only cases of lung carcinoma were considered while other malignancies were excluded. RESULTS: Squamous Cell carcinoma was found in 42.7% of cases. Overall male to female ratio was 2.67:1. Prevalence of Squamous Cell carcinoma increased from 32% to 57.9% while that of Small Cell carcinoma increased from 12% to 17.1%. Unspecified type showed decrease from 36% to 5.3%. Increase in the prevalence of Squamous Cell carcinoma was found in both males and females while change in the prevalence of Small Cell carcinoma was found on!y in males. CONCLUSION: Squamous Cell carcinoma was the most prevalent variant of lung carcinoma in our region, followed by Adenocarcinoma. Male to female ratio across different histological patterns did not show significant variation. Increase in the prevalence of Squamous Cell carcinoma was statistically significant in both males and females while in case of Small Cell carcinoma change in its prevalence was also significant in males.