Study team performed a systematic review of 7 research databases. Following research protocols were analyzed: observational studies of healthy community-dwelling women who didn’t report any urologic symptoms (LUTS, renal diseases, cancer, and catheter use). Twenty-two studies were included in the final cohort with a total of 2,488 women. Eleven countries were represented: 3 studies were conducted in Belgium, 3 in the US, 2 each in India and Taiwan, 1 in Canada, Czech Republic, Sweden, Thailand, and the UK. Three independent reviewers were involved to crosscheck sample data for inclusion, exclusion, and outcomes. The study flowchart is reflected in Figure 1.
Researchers studied the outcomes of uroflowmetry, frequency of urination, voided volume, and postvoid residual (Table 1).
Table 1: Study limitations included wide confidence intervals and high variation in bladder outcomes.
Systemic review and meta-analysis showed wide variability on healthy bladder indicators and currently insufficient evidence of bladder function reference ranges for the asymptomatic population. Future research is crucial to identify the norms of bladder health.
Presented by: Jean Wyman, Ph.D., RN, APRN, GNP-BC, FAAN, FGS.
Co-authors: Haitao Chu, Minneapolis, MN, Yvette LaCoursiere, La Jolla, CA, Alayne Markland, Birmingham, AL, Elizabeth Mueller, Maywood, IL, Laura Simon, St. Louis, MO, Ann Stapleton, Palm Springs, CA, Carolyn Stoll, Siobhan Sutcliffe, St. Louis, MO, Jincheng Zhou, Minneapolis, MN, Tamara Bavendam, Bethesda, MD, Prevention of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (PLUS) Research Consortium, Minneapolis, MN