Do the incidence and severity of lower urinary tract symptoms measured by the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaires correlate with urodynamic findings in patients with systemic sclerosis?

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSC) affects the urinary bladder and many other body organs. Systemic sclerosis commonly manifests as lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), which are usually reported using validated questionnaires. This study aimed to correlate questionnaire-reported LUTS with urodynamic findings in patients with SSC.

Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was performed at our center between August 2018 and July 2021. Lower urinary tract symptoms were assessed using the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire (ICIQ) Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Modules and ICIQ Male Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Module and urodynamic studies. Univariate analyses were then performed on variables affecting detrusor activity.

Results: This study included 22 patients (5 men, 17 women). The mean ± standard deviation age, body mass index, and disease duration were 37.2 ± 11.1 years, 25.5 ± 4.2 kg/m², and 6.2 ± 5.3 years, respectively. Lower urinary tract symptoms occurred in 19 (86.4%) patients, of whom 18 (94.7%) had mild to moderate symptoms. The ICIQ scores for voiding and filling symptoms were higher than those for incontinence. The most frequent organ involvements included Raynaud's phenomenon in 22 (100%), skin conditions in 20 (90.9%), gastrointestinal tract maladies in 17 (77.3%), joint disorders in 16 (72.7%), and lung diseases in 14 (63.6%) patients. Abnormal detrusor contractions occurred in only 5 patients (22.7%). Univariate analyses showed that disease duration <5 years (p = 0.010), nonobstructive uroflowmetry findings (p = 0.024), absence of incontinence (p = 0.024) and telangiectasia (p = 0.010), and negative rheumatoid factors (p = 0.043) were significantly associated with normal detrusor contractions.

Conclusions: Mild to moderate severity of ICIQ-measured LUTS affected most patients with SSC but was not correlated with urodynamic findings. Normal detrusor contractions were significantly associated with shorter disease duration, nonobstructive uroflowmetry findings, absence of incontinence and telangiectasia, and negative rheumatoid factors.