Prevalence, Bother and Treatment Behavior Related to Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms and Overactive Bladder among Cardiology Patients.

Mikolaj Przydacz,Piotr Chlosta,Przemyslaw Dudek

doi:10.3390/jcm9124102

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to measure, at the population level, the prevalence, bother, and treatment-related behavior for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) in a large cohort of cardiology patients. Methods: This report is a further analysis of data from LUTS POLAND, a computer-assisted telephone survey that reflected the entire Polish population, stratified by age, sex, and place of residence. LUTS and OAB were assessed by a standardized protocol, the International Continence Society definitions, and validated questionnaires. In addition, all participants provided information regarding their behavior as it related to LUTS treatment. Results: Overall, 6005 participants completed interviews, and 1835 (30.6%) had received treatment by cardiologists. The prevalence of LUTS was 73.3% for cardiology participants compared with 57.0% for respondents who were not treated by cardiologists (p < 0.001). There were no differences between men and women in LUTS prevalence for cardiology patients. Nocturia was the most prevalent LUTS. LUTS were often bothersome, and storage symptoms were more bothersome than voiding or postmicturition symptoms. The prevalence of OAB syndrome was 50.7% in cardiology patients, higher than in noncardiology participants (36.6%, p < 0.001), and more women were affected than men. Only one-third of cardiology patients who reported LUTS were seeking treatment for LUTS, and most of them received treatment. There were no differences between persons living in urban and rural areas. Conclusions: LUTS and OAB were highly prevalent among cardiology patients. Although LUTS were often bothersome in this unique population, we found that the seeking of treatment for LUTS was minimal. These results highlight the need for cooperation between cardiologists and urologists.

Highlights

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) include storage symptoms, voiding symptoms, and postmicturition symptoms [1]
There is no published population-level study that has evaluated the prevalence, bother, and behavior related to treatment for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), including overactive bladder syndrome (OAB), in cardiology patients
Secondary study goals included the prevalence of specific LUTS, the bother of specific LUTS (LUTS were considered bothersome if they were rated at least quite a bit), the prevalence of OAB, overall assessment of severity of LUTS, treatment-related behavior for LUTS, and effect of LUTS on quality of life

Summary

Introduction

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) include storage symptoms, voiding symptoms, and postmicturition symptoms [1]. LUTS may herald many nonurological conditions [6] Among these conditions, cardiac diseases, in particular, should be considered because, together with LUTS, these dysfunctions are increasingly prevalent because of population aging and comorbid chronic medical conditions. There has been extensive study of links between cardiovascular disease (CVD) or heart failure (HF) and LUTS [7,8]. These relationships may be bidirectional in both men and women because LUTS have been marked as indicators and/or risk factors for predicting future CVD or HF, and CVD or HF have been reported as risk factors for occurrence or worsening of LUTS [9,10,11]. Gacci et al reported in their systematic review that patients with moderate to severe LUTS had increased risks of major adverse cardiac events [13], a well-designed meta-analysis conducted by Bouwman et al revealed that the presence of LUTS did not predict CVD in older men who did not have a history of CVD [14]

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