Overcoming the challenges of characterizing normal urodynamic parameters in middle-aged and older women

To describe urodynamic study (UDS) findings in middle-aged and older women with various lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) who were found to have a normal study interpretation.

Following institutional review board approval, UDS tracings of non-neurogenic women who were tested for various LUTS and whose study was interpreted as normal were reviewed. Demographic data, indications for UDS, and UDS parameter findings were extracted. UDS was conducted according to an established protocol using a 6F dual-lumen catheter (ICS guidelines) with a Laborie system and interpreted with a pre-existing template to standardize each reading. The fill-void study was frequently repeated during the same UDS session to confirm normal findings. Study interpretation was done by a neutral reviewer with UDS expertise.

From 2000-2012, 42 middle-aged women, who had been coded as having a normal study, were retrospectively reviewed from a database of over 2200 studies. The majority were Caucasian, with mean age 63 (range 42-85), mean body mass index 24.5 (20-37), mean parity 2 (0-4), and 67% were post-menopausal. Of the 42 patients, 28 underwent a second fill-void study. UDS findings were reported based on clinical indication for UDS: 1) incontinence, 2) pelvic organ prolapse, or 3) other LUTS symptoms. UDS findings were consistent between first and second studies.

UDS parameters from a cohort of middle-aged and older women with normal findings could serve as reference values when interpreting urodynamic studies or for designing an age-comparable nomogram.