Purpose: Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and overactive bladder (OAB) commonly affect the aging female population. We aimed to investigate the possible relationship between the two, as reflected by urodynamic studies.
Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on women who underwent urodynamic studies at a university-affiliated tertiary medical center from January 2018 to January 2021. Women presenting with urge incontinence and diagnosed with detrusor overactivity (DO) were included in the study. Based on the presence or absence of a modified POP-Q ≥ grade 2, these women were categorized into two groups. Data on general demographics, clinical symptoms, and urodynamic findings were extracted and compared using SPSS.
Results: During the study period, 949 urodynamic evaluations were performed. Of these, 303 (31.92%) reported urge incontinence. Out of this subset, 151 (49.83%) were diagnosed with DO. Within this group, 18 (11.9%) had POP, while 134 (88.1%) did not. The POP group had a notably higher incidence of prior vaginal hysterectomy and anterior colporrhaphy (p = 0.02 and p = 0.01, respectively). While most urodynamic parameters were similar between groups, there was a significant increase in hesitancy in the POP group (13 s vs 8 s, p = 0.03). There was a trend indicating a reduced median Q max (12 ml/s vs. 18 ml/s, p = 0.06) and an increased flow time (55 s vs 40 s, p = 0.08) in the POP group.
Conclusion: The urodynamic profile of the POP group suggests an obstructive voiding pattern. Further longitudinal research is essential to fully understand the relationship between POP and OAB.
Keywords: Detrusor overactivity (DO); Overactive bladder (OAB); Pelvic organ prolapse (POP); Urge incontinence; Urodynamic studies.
© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.