A study of bladder dysfunction in diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Diabetic cystopathy was initially described as a complication of diabetes, characterized by an increase in bladder capacity and in post voiding residual volumes, accompanied by a decreased in bladder contraction and vesical sensation. Today, the term includes symptoms of overactive bladder.The main of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of urinary symptoms in the diabetic population, to compare it with the general population and to understand the impact that these symptoms have on this population.Methods: An inquiry of urinary symptoms was done to the diabetic patients followed in our hospital, being excluded patients with other comorbidities eventually responsible for cystopathy. We also evaluated the impact of symptoms on the daily basis. From a number of 400 patients, 151 were included in our study. A similar number of a control healthy population was inquired, respecting the same protocol. The statistically study was made with nonparametric test. Results:From the 151 patients evaluated, 76 were female. Our population included 52 DM1 and 99 DM2 patients, with an average of HbA1c: 8.14% and of 15years of diabetes duration. 64/151(42%) had more than one diabetes chronic complication and 35/151(23%) had symptoms of stress urinary incontinence. 114/151(75%) patients had more than one symptom of bladder dysfunction on the storage phase and 53/151(35%) had symptoms of voiding dysfunction, with only 28 patients with no symptoms of urinary dysfunction. Comparing to our healthy population we can attribute the bladder dysfunction symptoms to diabetes mellitus.The impact of the urinary symptoms on their daily basis was, on average, seven on a scale of 0-10. Conclusion:Diabetic cystopathy is a highly prevalent complication. For a correct evaluation other causes must be ruled out; a good clinical history with an inquiry of urinary symptoms help to characterize the disease stage, which is decisive for the choice of therapeutic strategy.