Variability of urodynamic parameters in patients with overactive bladder

• Published in: Neurourology and urodynamics 2011-11, Vol.30 (8), p.1565-1569
• Main Authors: Frenkl, Tara L., Railkar, Radha, Palcza, John, Scott, Boyd B., Alon, Achilles, Green, Stuart, Schaefer, Werner
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Calibration; cystometrogram; Diagnostic Techniques, Urological - standards; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Observer Variation; overactive bladder; Placebos; Predictive Value of Tests; Pressure; Reproducibility of Results; Sensation; Treatment Outcome; United States; Urinary Bladder - drug effects; Urinary Bladder - innervation; Urinary Bladder - physiopathology; Urinary Bladder, Overactive - diagnosis; Urinary Bladder, Overactive - drug therapy; Urinary Bladder, Overactive - physiopathology; urodynamic studies; Urodynamics; variability; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0733-2467; 1520-6777
• DOI: 10.1002/nau.21081

Aims To report interpatient, intrapatient, and study site variability of urodynamic study (UDS) parameters in patients with overactive bladder (OAB). Methods Fifty‐eight patients with OAB participated in a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, urodynamic trial of an experimental OAB drug. Patients underwent 3 serial cystometries (CMGs) at three times: screening, pre‐dose, and 4‐hr postdose. This post hoc analysis describes intrapatient, interpatient, and site variability for the 6 CMGs prior to administration of study drug. Sites were given standard procedures for equipment calibration and UDS technique. Instilled volumes and pressures were recorded at first sensation of filling, first desire to void (FDV), strong desire to void (SDV), and maximum cystometric capacity (MCC). Results The UDS volume endpoint with the smallest observed within‐patient variability based on coefficient of variation (%CV) was MCC (%CV 24). Pressure measurements of all bladder sensations had larger within‐patient variability than volume (MCC %CV 105). The between‐patient variability was greater than within‐patient variability for all bladder sensation volumes. Between‐patient MCC variability for the 6 pre‐treatment CMGs ranged from %CV of 50 to 58, whereas the within‐patient %CV for MCC was 21–23. Excellent reproducibility was observed for bladder volume for MCC (intraclass correlation coefficients, range: 0.80–0.84). The between‐site variability was large, as demonstrated by the mean volumes by site for MCC (132–397 ml). Conclusions MCC was the most reproducible sensation. Pressure measurements were substantially more variable than volume. Between‐patient variability was substantially greater than within‐patient variability. The observed intersite variability suggests that despite detailed instructions, sensations may not have been measured in a consistent manner across sites. Neurourol. Urodynam. Neurourol. Urodynam. 30: 1565–1569, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.