Do lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) predispose the individuals to more admissions in Taiwanese women? – A preliminary report

Abstract

Objective: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are highly prevalent, and increase significantly as age advances. However, whether LUTS predispose women to more admissions and/or operations has not been well reported. We studied the risks of admissions among women with or without LUTS. Materials and Methods: Based on a nationwide population-based database, the risks of admissions among women of National Health Insurance enrollees with at least one outpatient service claim, with the coding of LUTS during 2001–2004, were compared with those without LUTS for the following 2 years. Results: Total admission rates (per 1000 person-years) were significantly higher in women with LUTS, as compared with the controls; 309.7 versus 173.6, respectively. The adjusted incidence rate ratio (IRR)=1.79 and 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.63–1.95. The adjusted IRRs=1.78 (95% CI=1.56–2.03), 2.02 (95% CI=1.75–2.33), 1.53 (95% CI=1.29–1.81), 2.09 (95% CI=1.13–3.86), 1.40 (95% CI=1.21–1.63), and 4.48 (95% CI=3.37–5.96) in the departments of internal medicine, gynecology, surgery, psychiatry, orthopedics and urology, respectively; all p values < 0.05. Meanwhile, the operation rates were also higher in women with LUTS, as compared with controls, in total and in the departments of gynecology, orthopedics, and surgery; all p values < 0.05. Conclusions: The preliminary data showed a higher risk of admissions and operations among women with LUTS. The possible explanations included: more co-morbidities, a poorer quality of life, a lower threshold of admission, or potential early symptoms of either medical or surgical conditions. This highlights a broad understanding of multiple and overlapping systems in LUTS.

Keywords

• epidemiology
• lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS)
• National Health Insurance Research Database
• risks for admission