Clinical and urodynamic predictors of Q-tip test urethral hypermobility

Urodynamics and Q-tip test represent diagnostic tools for the assessment of stress urinary incontinence. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possibility to predict the Q-tip test urethral hypermobility on the basis of clinical and urodynamic parameters.

We analyzed all women performed urodynamics between 2008 and 2016 presenting urodynamic stress urinary incontinence. Symptoms were collected by the Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form Questionnaire.

A total of 501 women presented urodynamic stress incontinence, of which 270 had urethral hypermobility, according to the Q-tip test. Patients with urethral hypermobility were younger (P<0.0001) and presented a more advanced anterior compartment descensus according to the POP-Q system (Aa point P=0.0155; Ba point P=0.0374), a higher detrusor pressure at maximum flow (P=0.0075) and maximum flow rate compared to controls.

Age, Aa POP-Q point and detrusor pressure at maximum flow were found to be independent predictors of Q-tip test urethral hypermobility. However, the final model cannot be used as an effective predictor of the Q-tip test result.