Lower urinary tract symptoms in female patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Journal
Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology
Journal Volume
35
Journal Issue
2
Pages
96-101
Date Issued
2006
Author(s)
Abstract
Objective: Patients with autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and Sj?gren's syndrome (SS) are associated with an increased severity of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Recent surveys also reveal that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is prevalent in patients with interstitial cystitis (IC). Therefore, we have investigated LUTS in patients with RA. Methods: A total of 198 female patients with RA, aged 40 years or older, from the rheumatology outpatient clinic completed this prospective study. The American Urological Association Symptom Index (AUASI) score was used to assess the severity of LUTS and the O'Leary-Sant Symptom Index (ICSI) was used to evaluate IC-like urinary symptoms in these patients, which were compared to those of 679 age-matched controls. The possible associations of clinical parameters with LUTS were also explored. Results: The Mean AUASI score and the percentage of individuals reporting severe LUTS (AUASI scores?20) or IC-like urinary symptoms (ICSI scores?12) showed no significant differences between the RA and control groups. However, in the RA group multivariate regression analyses identified patients with secondary SS (n=21) to be associated with a significantly higher AUASI score (p=0.007) and a higher percentage of severe LUTS (p=0.02); these were also significantly higher than those of the control group (p=0.02 and p=0.01, respectively). Conclusion: Patients with RA have similar urinary complaints when compared to controls. However, those with secondary SS have a greater severity of LUTS, a finding similar to that observed in patients with primary SS. ? 2006 Taylor & Francis on license from Scandinavian Rheumatology Research Foundation.
SDGs
Other Subjects
adult; aged; article; autoimmune disease; clinical feature; controlled study; disease severity; female; human; interstitial cystitis; lower urinary tract symptom; major clinical study; O Leary Sant Symptom Index; priority journal; rating scale; rheumatoid arthritis; Sjoegren syndrome; systemic lupus erythematosus; urinary tract disease; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Arthritis, Rheumatoid; Cystitis; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Prospective Studies; United States; Urination Disorders
Type
journal article