Assessment of lower urinary tract symptoms during pregnancy: an observational cross-sectional study from Palestine

Abstract

Background Women frequently complain of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) during pregnancy due to multiple physiological and potentially pathological changes. Still, there is limited data on the characteristics of LUTS for pregnant women in Palestine. Therefore, this study was designed to assess LUTS among pregnant women in Palestine, in addition to identifying factors that exacerbate LUTS during pregnancy. Methods We devised a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study that used the Urinary Distress Inventory (UDI) and the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ) tools to assess LUTS during pregnancy in an antenatal care clinic setting. Multiple linear regressions were conducted to determine variables that significantly related to LUTS (UDI-6 and IIQ-7 scores as dependent variables). Results The study recruited 306 pregnant women. Regarding LUTS findings, the participants scored a mean of 31.9 ± 24.9 out of 100 points (6.7 ± 5.2 out of 21) for the IIQ-7 scale and a mean of 31.2 ± 19.2 out of 100 points (5.6 ± 3.4 out of 18) for the UDI-6 scale. Regression analysis showed that older women (p = 0.031), women with a higher body mass index (p < 0.001), and women in the third trimester of pregnancy (p = 0.023), were independently associated with high UDI score. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that obese and overweight patients (p = 0.006) and multiparity (p = 0.026) were independently associated with high IIQ score. Conclusions High body mass index is independently associated with both UDI and IIQ scores for LUTS. Several strategies should be arranged to raise the awareness of females of childbearing age in Palestine regarding LUTS during pregnancy and factors which may exacerbate LUTS, such as obesity and multiparity. Thus, preventive measures should be implemented, such as serial assessment of LUTS during antenatal care to respond timely to this frequent problem.

Overactive bladder syndrome is associated with detrusor overactivity and abnormal voiding pattern in nulliparous women

“…Pregnancy and childbirth are frequently associated with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), for example, increased urinary frequency and urgency, stress urinary incontinence (SUI), urgency urinary incontinence (UUI), and voiding difficulty. 1,2 However, numerous nulliparous (NP) women may also present with overactive bladder syndrome (OAB). OAB is a common and chronic syndrome that is defined as urinary urgency or UUI and is usually accompanied by increased frequency and nocturia in the absence of urinary tract infection or some other obvious pathology.…”

Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Among Females with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Prospective Cross-Sectional Study

“…For instance, the pregnant female can predominantly have nonpathological LUTS, especially towards the third trimester, and it affects QoL causing prominent stress and embarrassment. 7,8 On the other hand, diabetic and spinal cord injury patients may present with LUTS secondary to a pathological insult to the urinary tract, such as UTIs and urolithiasis. 9,10 The correlation between RA and LUTS is not well established, which creates a challenge to clinicians as both entities directly negatively impact the patient's QoL.…”

Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Impact on Quality of Life Due to Urinary Incontinence Among Palestinian Women: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Three hundred and eleven females met our inclusion criteria; 162 (52.1%) of the participants were ≥ 42 years old. (19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24). The median overall number of deliveries was 3 (2-4), the median number of vaginal deliveries was 3 (2-4), and the median number of cesarean deliveries was 0 (0-1).…”

“…Our group has published several papers about lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and UI among different cohorts of patients in Palestine [18][19][20][21][22]. This was a national study investigating the prevalence of UI and the factors that influence it.…”