Risk factors for stress urinary incontinence in middle aged and elderly Thai women.

OBJECTIVE: To determine risk factors of stress urinary incontinence in middle aged and elderly Thai women. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Between March 1999 and January 2000, 46 women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) with the mean age of 49.05 years old and 168 continent women with the mean age of 49.05 years old were interviewed. The risk factors (e.g. cigarette smoking, childbirth, menopausal status, family history, previous abdominal hysterectomy, transvaginal surgery and body mass index) were studied. The Chi Square or Fisher exact test were used for statistical analysis and p<0.05 was considered as a level of statistical significance. Odds Ratio (O.R.) and its 95 per cent confidence of interval was calculated. RESULTS: The study suggested that menopausal status, childbirth, previous abdominal hysterectomy, transvaginal surgery and family history had no correlation with SUI. The risk factor of body mass index (BMI) > or = Kg/m2 had statistical correlation with SUI. (p=0.000, O.R.=3.570, 95% C.I. of O.R.=1.779 to 7.163). No smokers were found among the studied group so this factor could not be evaluated. CONCLUSIONS: Body mass index was the only identified risk factor of SUI in middle aged and elderly Thai women.

Interstitial laser coagulation for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: a 3 year-follow-up of 30 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To report the results and 3 year-follow-up of treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) using interstitial laser coagulation. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Thirty men with BPH underwent treatment with interstitial laser coagulation between December 1996 and April 1997. Their average age was 68 years old. All of them were assessed prior to the treatment and post treatment for symptoms score, uroflowmetry and postvoid residual urine. Any complication and consequence were evaluated at each follow-up visit. RESULTS: Up to 36 months follow-up, all parameters showed marked improvement. The symptom score decreased from 20 to 5. Peak flow rate increased from 4 ml/sec to 17 ml/sec. Residual urine decreased from 115 ml to 8 ml. No major complication was detected. Urethral catheter or intermittent catheterization were used for the mean of 9.1 days. All of the patients who were potent prior to the treatment remained potent and 75 per cent still had prograde ejaculation. No re-treatment was needed in the 3 year-follow-up. CONCLUSION: On the basis of these results, we propose that interstitial laser coagulation appears to be a minimally invasive treatment for BPH, with substantial improvement of both objective and subjective parameters.