Reliability and Validity of Pain and Urinary Symptom Severity Assessment in Urologic Chronic Pelvic Pain; A MAPP Network Analysis.

To assess reliability and validity of an efficient severity assessment for pelvic pain and urinary symptoms in urologic chronic pelvic pain syndrome (UCPPS), which consists of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS).

578 patients were assessed using brief, empirically derived self-report scales for Pelvic Pain Severity (PPS) and Urinary Symptoms Severity (USS) four times during a one-month period and baseline clinic visit that included urologic, pain and illness-impact measures. Mild, moderate and severe categories on each dimension were examined for measurement stability and construct validity.

PPS and USS severity categories had adequate reliability and both discriminant validity (differential relationships with specific clinical and self-report measures) and convergent validity (common association with non-urological somatic symptoms). For example, increasing PPS was associated with pelvic tenderness and widespread pelvic pain, whereas USS was associated with urgency during a bladder filling test and increased sensory sensitivity. PPS and USS categories were independently associated with non-urological pain and emotional distress. A descriptive analysis identified higher likelihood characteristics associated with having moderate to severe PPS or USS or both. Lack of sex interactions indicated that the measures are comparable in IC/BPS and CP/CPPS.

Women and men with UCPPS can be reliably subgrouped using brief self-report measures of mild, moderate or severe pelvic pain and urinary symptoms. Comparisons with a broad range of clinical variables demonstrate the validity and potential clinical utility of these classifications, including use in clinical trials, health services and biological research.

The Journal of urology. 2022 Jan 21 [Epub ahead of print]

Bruce D Naliboff, Kenneth Locke, D Schrepf, James W Griffith, Robert Moldwin, John N Krieger, Larissa V Rodriguez, Alisa J Stephens-Shields, J Quentin Clemens, H Henry Lai, Siobhan Sutcliffe, Bayley J Taple, David Williams, Michael A Pontari, Chris Mullins, J Richard Landis, MAPP Research Network

University of California, Los Angeles., University of Pennsylvania., University of Michigan., Northwestern University., Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine., University of Washington., University of Southern California., Washington University., Temple University., National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health., MAPP Research Network List of Participants in Appendix A, https://www.jurology.com.