Comparison of characteristics of urine specimens at physiological state versus post-artificial heating at the National Traditional Medicine Hospital, Bhutan

Abstract

Introduction: Urine reflects the body’s functional status playing a central role in the diagnosis of disease conditions. This study aimed to compare six of the nine features of urine at physiological and lukewarm states after artificial heating – colour, odour, steam, bubbles, sediment, and frothiness. Method: This comparative study utilized the Bhutan Analysis System for Urine Properties (BASUP) chart. The study was conducted from July 2021 to January 2022 at the Eastern Regional Referral Hospital, Wangdicholing District Hospital, and the National Traditional Medicine Hospital. The properties of urine were evaluated soon after collection at physiological state. After the urine specimen had cooled down to room temperature, it was heated to body temperature following a standard procedure for reassessment of its properties. Results: A total of 91 specimens from 35 men and 56 women were analysed. There were no significant differences observed in the colour, odour, steam, bubbles, sediment, or frothiness between physiological and artificially heated specimens. However, there were differences in the colours of དམར་ཤས་ ཆེ་བ། (Marshechewa) with p = 0.023 and སེར་ཤས་ ཆེ་བ། (Sershechewa) with p = 0.015. Conclusion: The study found no significant differences in the majority of the properties of urine in specimens at physiological state and after artificial heating. However, further studies are required to evaluate the physicochemical properties and the differences in the Marshechewa and Sershechewa colours noted.