Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTSs) in Elite Female and Male Athletes: Prevalence and Impact on Performance-A...

Introduction: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTSs), including urinary incontinence (UI), are common problems present in the general population. However, these symptoms have also been seen in young, elite-level athletes, especially females, including those who are nulliparous. This preliminary study aimed to report on the prevalence of LUTSs within an elite athletic population, including both males and females, within the UK high-performance system (the Sports Institute of Northern Ireland) and a women's elite cycling team, while also investigating the link between LUTSs and specific training and sporting activities. Methods: A cross-sectional study of elite athletes in the Sports Institute of Northern Ireland (SINI) and a women's professional cycling team, using an online questionnaire, was conducted to investigate the prevalence of LUTSs and UI and their impact on quality of life (QOL) among both male and female elite athletes. The authors used the STROBE-SIIS guidelines to produce separate electronic questionnaires for male and female athletes. This is a preliminary pilot study due to the small sample size. Results: Ten male athletes completed the IPPS questionnaire, reporting a median score of 5.5/35. Meanwhile, 18 female athletes completed the Athlete Female LUTS (A-FLUTS) questionnaire and reported a median score of 6/44. Female athletes had a higher prevalence of UI in the last four weeks (66.7%) compared to male athletes (20%). Of the 28 athletes, 7 were explosive/sprint athletes, and 21 were endurance athletes. Explosive/sprint athletes (71.4%) appeared to have a higher prevalence of UI in the last four weeks compared to endurance athletes (42.9%). Athletes self-managed these UI symptoms through a variety of methods, including reducing fluid intake, which could impact their athletic performance. This is a preliminary pilot study and-despite its small size-it defines a methodology and shows some important results that encourage research to be carried out on a larger sample size. Conclusions: The reported QOL impact and potential impact on health and athletic performance highlight the need for better management and treatment protocols, including the need to screen for urinary symptoms in the pre-season medical.