SUFU 2022: Assessing the Utilization of the Healthcare System

(UroToday.com) This study sought to assess the proportion of patients who sought out medical care and received treatment for bladder symptoms, in addition to any predictive factors for doing so.

A sample of 3,396 adults was recruited electronically to complete a questionnaire on clinical and demographic information, social needs, and urinary symptoms (LURN SI-10, ICIQ-UI SF, and PPBC). Excluded participants were currently pregnant, had a history of cystectomy, pelvic radiation, or neurologic lower urinary tract dysfunction.

1,303 participants (38.37%) were identified as having OAB (any UUI in the past week or urgency with frequency >8 times/day). Most identified as female (82.66%) and white, non-Hispanic (86.11%). Respondents mostly lived in a suburban (39.37%) community, had private insurance (50.19%), worked full time (43.46%), and had at least a college degree (42.13%).

The majority of respondents reported their last doctor’s visit for any reason was within a year (94.70%). The findings were not surprising as only 48.27% of patients reported ever asking a doctor about bladder symptoms and only 135 (10.36%) patients reported taking medications for bladder symptoms. On logistic regression, older age, history of urologic surgery, having both Medicare/Medicaid and private insurance, and increased symptom severity was predictive of having asked a provider about urinary symptoms. Unemployed patients and those with a college degree were less likely to see a physician.

Only half of those with OAB have discussed their urinary symptoms with a provider, with an even smaller proportion being treated with oral medications. Predictors for seeking medical care are having prior urologic surgery, indicating patients that are already receiving urologic care, in addition to increased symptom severity.

Presented by: Elisabeth Sebesta, MD, Stephanie Gleicher, MD, MPH, Melissa Kaufman, MD, PhD, Roger Dmochowski, MD, W. Stuart Reynolds, MD, MPH, Department of Urologic Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN

Written by: Diane K. Newman, DNP, ANP-BC, FAAN, Adjunct Professor of Urology in Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania and Co-Director of the Penn Center for Continence and Pelvic Health at the 2022 Society of Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine & Urogenital Reconstruction (SUFU) Winter Meeting, February 22 - 26, 2022