Prevalence of Overactive Bladder Symptoms Among Women With Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome

Importance Symptoms of urinary frequency, urgency, and urinary leakage are characteristic of overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome. However, frequency and urgency symptoms are also present in most patients with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS). Objective Our objective was to describe the urge incontinence among women with IC/BPS, which may indicate true overlap of OAB and IC/BPS. Study Design This is a prospective study of women with IC/BPS diagnosed clinically in the Veterans Affairs Health Care system. Patients completed the OAB and Female Genitourinary Pain Index (F-GUPI) questionnaires. Questions from the OAB questionnaire were used to analyze symptoms of urinary urgency and urge incontinence. Pain symptoms, urinary symptoms, and impact on quality of life were assessed based on the F-GUPI. Patient demographics, comorbidities, and symptoms were reviewed. Results Within the cohort of 144 women with IC/BPS, 100 (69%) had urinary leakage associated with the strong desire to void and were more likely to have incontinence compared with healthy controls (P
Source: Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery - Category: OBGYN Tags: AUGS Special Issue Submission Source Type: research