The second aim was to evaluate feasibility, safety, and efficacy of the integrated program vs usual care (Figure 1).
Thirty-seven community dwelling women with self-reported urinary incontinence were recruited for the study (refer to Figure 2 for the sample characteristics).
Thirty-six participants were randomized into either Exercise UP group or usual care group. The intervention included two DVDs with home-based exercise routine and bladder training program. In addition, participants were provided with exercise equipment to incentivize program adherence. Usual care group was offered a referral to the UI specialist and a bladder training DVD after study completion. Women were administered questionnaires about their urinary symptoms, the risk for falls, and cognition. Accelerometry was utilized to register physical activity levels at the baseline and for the last week of intervention.
Study results demonstrated that 53% of women in the Exercise UP arm showed at least 70% adherence to the program. There were no serious adverse events reported by the study subjects. Women who were assigned to the intervention group exhibited a statistically significant decrease in the urinary incontinence severity scores compared to the usual care group (-6.2±5.8 vs -2.4±4.2, p=0.04) (Figure 3).
Data indicated an overall reduction in fall risk scores, but it wasn’t statistically significant (Figure 4).
This pilot trial demonstrated the safety and feasibility of a home-based exercise program in community-dwelling women with urinary incontinence. Future studies are needed to further assess an association between falls and UI.
Presented by: Christine Chu, MD, Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery, Washington University, St Louis, Missouri, United States
Written by: Hanna Stambakio, BS, Clinical Research Coordinator, Division of Urology, University of Pennsylvania, Twitter: @AStambakio at the American Urological Association's 2019 Annual Meeting (AUA 2019), May 3 – 6, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois