Spectrum of lower urinary tract symptoms in the women attending gynecological OPD in a tertiary care hospital in Northeast India

Abstract

Aim: Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) are common conditions seen in women of all ages and by clinicians of nearly all specialties. The prevalence of LUTS has been measured by numerous epidemiological studies around the globe. However, there are insufficient data from India, particularly among women consulting gynecology clinics. This observational study was conducted to determine the proportion of LUTS among women attending the Gynecology OPD. Material and methods: For the evaluation, a standardized, pretested, structured, and scored Bristol LUTS questionnaire containing sociodemographic information and a clinical history of LUTS symptoms has been utilized. The symptoms of LUTS were classified as storage, voiding, and stress symptoms. Each response received a score between 0 and 4. Patients were categorized into no/minimal LUTS (score1–7), moderate LUTS (score8–19), and severe LUTS (score>20). In our study, 48% of women attending the Gynecological OPD had LUTS. Age and vaginal delivery had a significant influence on the incidence of LUTS. Results: Despite the high prevalence of LUTS, few patients in our study spontaneously reported symptoms of LUTS. This underreporting may be due to a lack of awareness as well as social stigma. Many consider these symptoms to be a normal part of the ageing process, especially in postmenopausal women. Conclusion: Although all of the patients we have identified are based on the evaluation of a symptomatic questionnaire, a urodynamic study should be conducted to determine whether or not these women have different types of LUTS.

Keywords

• lower urinary tract symptoms
• Bristol's questionnaire
• urodynamic study
• LUTS