The Prolapse Quality of Life Questionnaire Can Serve as an Assessment Tool for Urinary Storage Conditions in Patients...

The Prolapse Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (P-QOL) is a validated tool for assessing symptom severity and treatment outcomes in patients with pelvic organ prolapse (POP). This study investigates whether the total score of selected P-QOL component questions may serve as a surrogate marker for the Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS) and the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short-Form (ICIQ-SF) in patients with POP undergoing transvaginal mesh surgery (TVM).

The study enrolled 148 patients who underwent TVM at our institution between September 2014 and March 2024. Correlations between the total score of selected P-QOL component questions and the OABSS or ICIQ-SF score were assessed using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. The Kruskal-Wallis test compared P-QOL scores between OABSS ≥ 3 and ≤ 2 groups, and ICIQ-SF ≥ 6 and ≤ 5 groups at pre-operation and at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively.

Significant correlations were observed between the total score of selected P-QOL component questions and the OABSS or ICIQ-SF score both preoperatively and postoperatively. Box plot analyses showed significant differences in P-QOL scores between the OABSS ≥ 3 and ≤ 2 groups and the ICIQ-SF ≥ 6 and ≤ 5 groups at all time points. Additionally, post-void residual urine volume, P-QOL scores, and OABSS and ICIQ-SF scores significantly decreased at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively compared with preoperative values.

The P-QOL provides reliable information regarding urinary storage conditions both preoperatively and postoperatively, making it a potential utility in reflecting urinary storage symptoms instead of the OABSS and ICIQ-SF for evaluating urinary storage symptoms in patients with POP.