A modified clinical scoring system for bladder pain syndrome: Long term experience

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Pain Management
• Clinical Assessment

Background:

• Bladder pain syndrome (BPS) presents complex challenges in clinical assessment and treatment stratification.
• Existing scoring systems may not adequately capture the multifaceted nature of BPS, including pain, nocturia, sexual dysfunction, and psychological distress.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a modified clinical scoring system for BPS that enhances the weightage of pain and nocturia.
• To incorporate measures for sexual dysfunction and psychological impact into the BPS scoring system.
• To evaluate the clinical outcomes of a treatment protocol linked to this new scoring system.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 190 patients with BPS were assessed using the new scoring system from January 2009 to September 2017.
• Patients were evaluated at baseline and at 1, 3, and 6 months post-treatment, with follow-ups every 6 months.
• The scoring system integrated increased emphasis on pain and nocturia, alongside new domains for sexual dysfunction and psychological impact.

Main Results:

• 174 patients were evaluable with a mean follow-up of 64 months (range 6-105 months).
• The patient cohort ranged in age from 24 to 76 years, including 19 males.
• At 6 months, 154 out of 174 patients (88.5%) showed a good or excellent response to treatment guided by the proposed scale.

Conclusions:

• The modified clinical scoring system effectively aids in stratifying BPS severity at induction and throughout follow-up.
• The proposed scale facilitates linking specific treatment protocols to patient clinical scores at the time of diagnosis.