Heterogeneity in reporting on urinary outcome and cure after surgical interventions for stress urinary incontinence in adult neuro‐urological patients: A systematic review

• Published in: Neurourology and urodynamics Vol. 37; no. 2; pp. 554 - 565
• Main Authors: Reuvers, Sarah H.M., Groen, Jan, Scheepe, Jeroen R., ‘t Hoen, Lisette A., Castro‐Diaz, David, Padilla‐Fernández, Bárbara, Del Popolo, Giulio, Musco, Stefania, Pannek, Jürgen, Kessler, Thomas M., Schneider, Marc P., Karsenty, Gilles, Phé, Veronique, Hamid, Rizwan, Ecclestone, Hazel, Blok, Bertil F.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.02.2018
• Subjects: neurogenic; outcome assessment; patient reported outcome measures; stress urinary incontinence; treatment outcome; urinary bladder; urinary incontinence; stress urinary incontinence; urinary bladder; patient reported outcome measures; outcome assessment; neurogenic; treatment outcome; urinary incontinence
• ISSN: 0733-2467; 1520-6777
• DOI: 10.1002/nau.23364

Aims To describe all outcome parameters and definitions of cure used to report on outcome of surgical interventions for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in neuro‐urological (NU) patients. Methods This systematic review was performed and reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) statement. The study protocol was registered and published (CRD42016033303; http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO). Medline, Embase, Cochrane controlled trials databases, and clinicaltrial.gov were systematically searched for relevant publications until February 2017. Results A total of 3168 s were screened. Seventeen studies reporting on SUI surgeries in NU patients were included. Sixteen different outcome parameters and nine definitions of cure were used. Six studies reported on objective outcome parameters mainly derived from urodynamic investigations. All studies reported on one or more subjective outcome parameters. Patient‐reported pad use (reported during interview) was the most commonly used outcome parameter. Only three of 17 studies used standardized questionnaires (two on impact of incontinence and one on quality of life). Overall, a high risk of bias was found. Conclusions We found a considerable heterogeneity in outcome parameters and definitions of cure used to report on outcome of surgical interventions for SUI in NU patients. The results of this systematic review may begin the dialogue to a future consensus on this topic. Standardization of outcome parameters and definitions of cure would enable researchers and clinicians to consistently compare outcomes of different studies and therapies.