Prognostic Value of Lower Tract Urinary Symptoms in Clinically Regional Lymph Node-positive Prostate Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: To explore the prognostic value of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in patients with newly diagnosed regional lymph node-positive prostate cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The prognostic value of LUTS for progression-free (PFS) and overall (OS) survival, as well as the differential prognostic impact of radiotherapy by LUTS was investigated. RESULTS: Univariate Cox-model analysis showed a statistically significantly increased hazard risk for PFS and OS for men with International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS)≥19 and Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS) ≥8 at diagnosis. Patients with lower IPSS had a better PFS at 5 years (70.0% vs. 51.9%, p=0.027) and OS at 5 year (89.3% vs. 73.6%, p=0.016). Similarly, a lower OABSS was associated with greater PFS at 5 years (67.4% vs. 23.4%, p<0.001) and OS at 5 years (85.3% vs. 57.1%, p=0.012). CONCLUSION: IPSS and OABSS were prognostic for PFS and OS in patients with regional lymph node-metastatic prostate cancer.

Cognitive ability and risk of death from lower respiratory tract infection: findings from UK Biobank.

Dementia increases the risk of lower respiratory tract infection, but it is unclear whether risk varies across the normal range of cognitive ability. People with higher cognitive ability tend to behave in a healthier fashion as regards risk factors for lower respiratory tract infection and there is evidence that they have a lower risk of dying from respiratory disease as a whole. We therefore investigated the relationship between cognitive ability and mortality from lower respiratory tract infection. Participants were 434,413 people from UK Biobank (54% female). Cognitive ability was measured using tests of reaction time and reasoning. Data on deaths from lower respiratory infection were obtained from death certificates. Over a mean follow-up period of 6.99 years, 1,282 people died of lower respiratory infection. Mortality from lower respiratory tract infection fell as cognitive ability increased. For a standard deviation faster reaction time, the age- and sex-adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) was 0.80 (0.76, 0.83) and the multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio was 0.87 (0.83, 0.91). There were similar though weaker associations when cognitive ability was assessed using a reasoning test. These findings suggest that variation across the normal range of cognitive ability increase risk of dying from lower respiratory tract infection.

Long-Term Outcomes of Renal Transplant in Recipients With Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction.

OBJECTIVES: Lower urinary tract dysfunction can lead to chronic kidney disease, which, despite surgical intervention, will progress to end-stage renal disease, requiring dialysis. Urologic pathology may damage a transplanted kidney, limiting patient and graft survival. Although smaller studies have suggested that urinary tract dysfunction does not affect graft or patient survival, this is not universally accepted. Northern Ireland has historically had the highest incidence of neural tube defects in Europe, giving rich local experience in caring for patients with lower urinary tract dysfunction. Here, we analyzed outcomes of renal transplant recipients with lower urinary tract dysfunction versus control recipients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified 3 groups of kidney transplant recipients treated between 2001 and 2010; those in group 1 had end-stage renal disease due to lower urinary tract dysfunction with prior intervention (urologic surgery, long-term catheter, or intermittent self-catheterization), group 2 had end-stage renal disease secondary to lower urinary tract dysfunction without intervention, and group 3 had end-stage renal disease due to polycystic kidney disease (chosen as a relatively healthy control cohort without comorbid burden of other causes of end-stage renal disease such as diabetes). The primary outcome measured, graft survival, was death censored, with graft loss defined as requirement for renal replacement therapy or retransplant. Secondary outcomes included patient survival and graft function. RESULTS: In 150 study patients (16 patients in group 1, 64 in group 2, and 70 in group 3), 5-year death-censored graft survival was 93.75%, 90.6%, and 92.9%, respectively, with no significant differences in graft failure among groups (Cox proportional hazards model). Five-year patient survival was 100%, 100%, and 94.3%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with a history of lower urinary tract dysfunction had graft and patient survival rates similar to the control group. When appropriately treated, lower urinary tract dysfunction is not a barrier to successful renal transplant.

Impact of lower urinary tract symptoms on mortality: a 21-year follow-up among middle-aged and elderly Finnish men.

BACKGROUND: The usefulness of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) as mortality risk factors remains unclear. Repeated assessments are required to take into account symptom fluctuation and de novo symptom appearance. The study objective was to evaluate mortality in relation to three urinary storage symptoms-urgency, daytime frequency, and nocturia-in middle-aged and elderly men, considering also other time-varying factors during follow-up. METHODS: A mail survey of a population-based cohort of men initially aged 50, 60, and 70 years was conducted in Finland in 1994, 1999, 2004, and 2009. The questionnaire included assessments of LUTS based on the Danish Prostatic Symptom Score and comorbidities. The men were followed up for mortality through the population registry through 2014. LUTS-related hazard ratios (HR) were analyzed with time-dependent Cox regression adjusted for the year of birth and comorbidities using variable values updated every 5 years. Sensitivity analyses were conducted using values of all variables fixed to the baseline assessment of 1994. RESULTS: Of the 1332 eligible men with data on LUTS from each preceding survey, 514 (38.6%) died during the 21-year follow-up. In time-dependent analyses, daytime frequency, and nocturia were significantly associated with increased mortality: the adjusted HR was 1.42 (95% CI 1.11-1.83) for daytime frequency, 1.38 (1.07-1.79) for nocturia and 1.19 (0.94-1.50) for urgency. In sensitivity analyses with fixed baseline characteristics, only nocturia was suggestively associated with an increased risk of death: the adjusted HR was 1.09 (0.84-1.42) for daytime frequency, 1.41 (0.99-2.02) for nocturia and 0.94 (0.52-1.68) for urgency. CONCLUSIONS: Among aging men, LUTS are more accurate predictors of short-term than longer-term mortality risk. Repeated assessments are needed to detect clinically relevant and persistent symptoms, often associated with ill health. Accordingly, men with daytime frequency or nocturia exhibit a 1.4-fold risk of death and therefore, should be evaluated for underlying comorbidity.

Reoperation Rates and Mortality After Transurethral and Open Prostatectomy in a Long-term Nationwide Analysis: Have We Improved Over a Decade?

OBJECTIVE: To assess long-term reoperation rates and mortality after transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and open prostatectomy (PE) as therapy for lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic enlargement. METHODS: The present study analyzes a nationwide database of all patients who underwent TURP/open PE during 2002-2006 and who were followed up for 8 years. Actuarial cumulative incidences of reoperation (TURP, urethrotomy, bladder neck incision) and death were calculated. Data were provided by the Austrian Public Health Institute. This series was compared with a previously published almost equally sized nationwide cohort that underwent surgery during 1992-1996 in Austria. RESULTS: Between 2002 and 2006, a total of 21,674 patients underwent TURP (n = 20,388) or open PE (n = 1,286). At 8 years, the re-TURP rate after primary TURP was 8.3% vs 4.3% after open PE. The re-TURP rate was higher in the 80+ cohort. The overall endourological reintervention rate at 8 years was 12.7% for TURP and 8.8% for open PE. Reintervention rates did not improve compared with the 1992-1996 series. The 30-day in-hospital mortality rate was 0.1% for TURP and 0.2% for open PE. Mortality rates improved by approximately 20% compared with the 1992-1996 series. CONCLUSION: In Austria, TURP rates remained stable between 1992 and 2006, paralleled by a 50% decline of open PE. Within a decade, mortality rates declined by 20%, yet reintervention rates remained unchanged.

Morbidity and mortality after surgery for lower urinary tract symptoms: a study of 95 577 cases from a nationwide German health insurance database.

BACKGROUND: Little real-world data is available on the comparison of different methods in surgery for lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic obstruction in terms of complications. The objective was to evaluate the proportions of TURP, open prostatectomy (OP) and laser-based surgical approaches over time and to analyse the effect of approach on complication rates. METHODS: Using data of the German local healthcare funds (Allgemeine Ortskrankenkassen (AOK)), we identified 95 577 cases with a primary diagnosis of hyperplasia of prostate who received TURP, laser vaporisation (LVP), laser enucleation (LEP) of the prostate or OP between 2008 and 2013. Univariable logistic regression was used to analyse proportions of surgical approach over time, and the effect of surgical method on outcomes was analysed by means of multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: The proportion of TURP decreased from 83.4% in 2008 to 78.7% in 2013 (P<0.001). Relative to TURP and adjusting for age, co-morbidities, AOK hospital volume, year of surgery and antithrombotic medication, OP had increased mortality (odds ratio (OR) 1.47, P<0.05), transfusions (OR 5.20, P<0.001) and adverse events (OR 2.17, P<0.001), and lower re-interventions for bleeding (OR 0.75, P<0.001) and long-term re-interventions (OR 0.55, P<0.001). LVP carried a lower risk of transfusions (OR 0.57, P<0.001) and re-interventions for bleeding (OR 0.76, P<0.001), but a higher risk of long-term re-interventions (OR 1.43, P<0.001). LEP had increased re-interventions for bleeding (OR 1.35, P<0.01). Complications were also dependent on age and co-morbidity. Limitations include the lack of clinical information and functional results. CONCLUSIONS: OP has the greatest risks of complication despite a low re-intervention rate. LVP demonstrated favourable results for transfusion and bleeding, but increased long-term re-interventions compared with TURP, while LEP showed increased re-interventions for bleeding. Findings support a careful indication and choice of method for surgery for LUTS, taking age and co-morbidities into account.

Defining and predicting 'intrauterine fetal renal failure' in congenital lower urinary tract obstruction.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to identify predictors of 'intrauterine fetal renal failure' in fetuses with severe congenital lower urinary tract obstruction (LUTO). METHODS: We undertook a retrospective study of 31 consecutive fetuses with a diagnosis of LUTO in a tertiary Fetal Center between April 2013 and April 2015. Predictors of 'intrauterine fetal renal failure' were evaluated in those infants with severe LUTO who had either a primary composite outcome measure of neonatal death in the first 24 h of life due to severe pulmonary hypoplasia or a need for renal replacement therapy within 7 days of life. The following variables were analyzed: fetal bladder re-expansion 48 h after vesicocentesis, fetal renal ultrasound characteristics, fetal urinary indices, and amniotic fluid volume. RESULTS: Of the 31 fetuses included in the study, eight met the criteria for 'intrauterine fetal renal failure'. All of the latter had composite poor postnatal outcomes based on death within 24 h of life (n = 6) or need for dialysis within 1 week of life (n = 2). The percentage of fetal bladder refilling after vesicocentesis at time of initial evaluation was the only predictor of 'intrauterine fetal renal failure' (cut-off <27 %, area under the time-concentration curve 0.86, 95 % confidence interval 0.68-0.99; p = 0.009). CONCLUSION: We propose the concept of 'intrauterine fetal renal failure' in fetuses with the most severe forms of LUTO. Fetal bladder refilling can be used to reliably predict 'intrauterine fetal renal failure', which is associated with severe pulmonary hypoplasia or the need for dialysis within a few days of life.

Increase of Framingham cardiovascular disease risk score is associated with severity of lower urinary tract symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS)/benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) assessed by the Framingham CVD risk score in a cohort of patients without previous episodes of stroke and/or acute myocardial infarction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From September 2010 to September 2014, 336 consecutive patients with BPH-related LUTS were prospectively enrolled. The general 10-year Framingham CVD risk score, expressed as percentage and assessing the risk of atherosclerotic CVD events, was calculated for each patient. Individuals with low risk had ≤10% CVD risk at 10 years, with intermediate risk 10-20% and with high risk ≥20%. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify variables for predicting a Framingham CVD risk score of ≥10% and moderate-severe LUTS (International Prostate Symptom Score [IPSS] ≥8), adjusted for confounding factors. RESULTS: As category of Framingham CVD risk score increased, we observed higher IPSS (18.0 vs 18.50 vs 19.0; P < 0.05), high IPSS-voiding (6.0 vs 9.0 vs 9.5; P < 0.05) and worse sexual function. Prostate volume significantly increased in those with intermediate- vs low-risk scores (54.5 vs 44.1 mL; P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that intermediate- [odds ratio (OR) 8.65; P < 0.01) and high-risk scores (OR 1.79; P < 0.05) were independently associated with moderate-severe LUTS. At age-adjusted logistic regression analysis, moderate-severe LUTS was independently associated with Framingham CVD risk score of ≥10% (OR 5.91; P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our cross-sectional study in a cohort of patients with LUTS-BPH showed an increase of more than five-fold of having a Framingham CVD risk score of ≥10% in men with moderate-severe LUTS.

Is there a link between overactive bladder and the metabolic syndrome in women? A systematic review of observational studies.

OBJECTIVES: To conduct a systematic review to determine whether there is an association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) or overactive bladder (OAB) in women. METHODS: We systematically reviewed English language observational studies on the effect of MetS (or component factors) on the presence of OAB or LUTS in women. We searched PubMed, Web of Science and The Cochrane Library with no date restrictions, checked reference lists and undertook citation searches in PubMed and Google Scholar. Studies were assessed for risk of bias. Because of heterogeneity, results were not pooled, but are reported narratively. RESULTS: Of 27 included studies, only three looked at the link between MetS and OAB. The rest looked at links between OAB and components of MetS such as obesity or insulin resistance (n = 10), between MetS and urinary symptoms (n = 3) and between urinary symptoms and components of MetS, such as obesity (n = 14). Evidence is currently limited, but it does suggest that there may be important links between MetS and OAB and components of MetS such as obesity. CONCLUSIONS: The literature on MetS and OAB or LUTS in women is limited, and poor quality. However, the evidence available on obesity appears to support MetS as a contributor and predictor of LUTS in women. Many of the women with LUTS will be overweight and will have features of the MetS, if looked for. This provides not only an opportunity to encourage weight loss as an adjunct to therapy for the OAB symptoms but also a window of opportunity to address cardiovascular risk factors and prevent future cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation in the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms and its impact on health-related quality of life in patients with Parkinson disease: a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: A randomized controlled trial study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (TTNS) and sham TTNS, in patients with Parkinson disease (PD) with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SUBJECTS AND SETTINGS: Thirteen patients with a diagnosis of PD and bothersome LUTS were randomly allocated to one of the following groups: Group I: TTNS group (n = 8) and group II: Sham group (n = 5). Both groups attended twice a week during 5 weeks; each session lasted 30 minutes. METHODS: Eight patients received TTNS treatment and 5 subjects allocated to group II were managed with sham surface electrodes that delivered no electrical stimulation. Assessments were performed before and after the treatment; they included a 3-day bladder diary, Overactive Bladder Questionnaire (OAB-V8), and the International Consultation on Incontinence Quality of Life Questionnaire Short Form (ICIQ-SF), and urodynamic evaluation. RESULTS: Following 5 weeks of treatment, patients allocated to TTNS demonstrated statistically significant reductions in the number of urgency episodes (P = .004) and reductions in nocturia episodes (P < .01). Participants allocated to active treatment also showed better results after treatment in the OAB-V8 and ICIQ-SF scores (P < .01, respectively). Urodynamic testing revealed that patients in the active treatment group showed improvements in intravesical volume at strong desire to void (P < .05) and volume at urgency (P < .01) when compared to subjects in the sham treatment group. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that TTNS is effective in the treatment of LUTS in patients with PD, reducing urgency and nocturia episodes and improving urodynamic parameters as well as symptom scores measured by the OAB-V8 and health-related quality-of-life scores measured by the ICIQ-SF.