The correlation between historical, clinical and urodynamic parameters in patients suffering from genuine stress urinary incontinence: Can a severity grading be considered?

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the possibility of establishing a genuine stress urinary incontinence severity grading from the combination of historical clinical and urodynamic parameters. Four hundred and eighty-three patients underwent complete investigation, including a questionnaire, clinical evaluation and multichannel urodynamic testing. They were then divided into four groups on the basis of the presence of only a SUI history (group 1, n = 65); positive urine loss with a 'continent' stress urethral pressure profile (SUPP) (group 2, n = 61); positive urine loss with an 'incontinent' SUPP (group 3, n = 231); or no urine loss with an 'incontinent' SUPP (group 4, n = 126). Compared to group 1 the severity of incontinence was significantly greater in groups 2 and 3, and maximal urethral closure pressure and pressure transmission ratio were significantly reduced in groups 3 and 4. Otherwise, history, clinical and urodynamic parameters showed no significant differences between the four groups. It was concluded that a scoring severity can be established when considering all the parameters of a woman suffering from GSI.