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Abstract

In recent years there have been a number of publications describing different methods for measuring urgency, these including electronic diary records and warning time measurement. A primary motivation is that we lack reliable methods for detecting between drug differences in efficacy in the treatment of the overactive bladder (OAB) In 2005 a paper in the J.Urol presented data that indicated that it should be possible to measure the symptoms of urgency by referencing the circumstances under which patients experienced this symptom. In this study it was found that the least frequency and incontinence tended to be associated with urgency on waking and rising and on getting home to put a key in the door (latchkey urgency). The middle grades of frequency and incontinence were additionally associated with urgency precipitated by the sound of running water and cold weather. The worst frequency and incontinence saw the addition of urgency aggravated by fatigue or worry. The linear qualities of these relationships suggested a simple summed scale which is illustrated in this table, as a means of measuring urgency.