Frequency of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms with Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Their Associated Factors among Women at Urogynecology and Gastroenterology Clinic

Abstract

Objective: To determine the lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in females with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and to find the effect on their Quality of Life (QoL) using the Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (BFLUTS) Questionnaire.

Methodology: This study included 140 female patients, 80 as cases with diagnosed IBS by the Rome III criteria while 60 without IBS as controls from Urogynecology clinics among which 45 patients had a≤ stage-II pelvic organ prolapse and 15 patients had idiopathic microscopic hematuria. LUTS were evaluated using BFLUTS Questionnaire.

Results: The two groups did not significantly differ in demographic except a high body mass index (BMI) in the IBS group (p-value 0.002). The IBS group also had a significantly higher frequency of chronic hypertension, interstitial cystitis, and chronic depression (p-value 0.02, 0.03, and 0.03 respectively). There was a high frequency of LUTS symptoms in patients with IBS, frequency (p-value <0.001), urgency urinary incontinence (p-value <0.004), hesitancy (p-value <0.02), straining to void (p-value <0.001) and intermittency (p-value <0.001). Also, IBS significantly affected sexual activity (p-value < 0.001) and quality of life especially, daily tasks (p-value <0.01).

Conclusion: Patients with IBS have a higher frequency of storage and voiding LUTS, and it negatively affects their sexual and overall quality of life. Thus it is possible that both share some common underlying pathology and patients with IBS should be screened for LUTS and provided comprehensive care.