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Is uroflow reproducible in healthy boys? A community-based observational study from Southern India
T Anil Kumar1, Selvin Theodore Jayanth Ezhilarasu2, Partho Mukherjee2
1Department of Urology, Zymus Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
Insights
Uroflowmetry is a reproducible diagnostic tool for children aged 5-15 years. Key flow rate measurements demonstrate excellent consistency, supporting its use in pediatric urology assessments.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Urology
- Diagnostic Reproducibility
Background:
- Uroflowmetry is a common diagnostic test for evaluating lower urinary tract symptoms in children.
- Establishing the reproducibility of uroflowmetry across different pediatric age groups is crucial for accurate interpretation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the reproducibility of uroflowmetry measurements in children aged 5-15 years.
- To determine the minimum age at which uroflowmetry provides representative data.
Main Methods:
- Uroflowmetry was performed on 247 boys aged 5-15 years, with repeat testing after two weeks.
- Measurements included maximum flow rate (Qmax), average flow rate (Qavg), and voided volume (VV).
- Reproducibility was assessed using the Inter-correlation coefficient (ICC) and Pearson's correlation coefficient.
Main Results:
- Maximum flow rate (Qmax) and average flow rate (Qavg) demonstrated excellent reproducibility (ICC >0.6) in boys aged 5-15 years.
- Voided volume (VV) showed excellent reproducibility (ICC >0.6) in boys aged 8-15 years, with moderate correlation (ICC 0.4-0.6) in the 5-7 year age group.
- Significant correlation was observed between flow rates and voided volume across all age groups.
Conclusions:
- Uroflowmetry is a reproducible method for assessing bladder function in children aged 5-15 years.
- Excellent reproducibility of Qmax and Qavg supports their reliability in this pediatric population.
- Good reproducibility of voided volume, particularly in older children, enhances the diagnostic value of uroflowmetry.
Introduction:
This study evaluates the reproducibility of uroflowmetry in children aged 5-15 years to establish the age at which uroflowmetry is representative.
Methods:
Of 291 boys screened, uroflowmetry was done in 247 eligible boys. The flow was repeated at two weeks. A total of 227 children were included for analysis. Twenty were excluded due to a voided volume of less than 50ml and an interrupted flow pattern. The maximum flow rate (Qmax), average flow rate (Qavg), voided volume (VV), time to maximum flow, flow time and voiding time were recorded. The reproducibility of all parameters was assessed using the Inter-correlation coefficient (ICC) and correlation using Pearson's coefficient.
Result:
Qmax, Qavg showed excellent concordance in boys of 5-15 years [ICC >0.6], implying the flows were reproducible. VV showed excellent concordance in boys aged 8-15 years [ICC >0.6], but only moderate correlation in boys aged 5-7 years [ICC 0.4-0.6], probably due to the wide variation in voided volumes. Qmax and Qavg showed significant correlation in all age groups, with voided volume in first and second flow [Pearson's coefficient: 0.49 & 0.53 for Qmax1 and Qmax2; 0.48 & 0.51 Qavg1 and Qavg2 respectively], implying reproducibility of flow in this age group.
Conclusion:
Uroflowmetry is reproducible in children aged 5-15 years. Qmax and Qavg showed excellent reproducibility, and voided volume showed good reproducibility. Qmax shows excellent reproducibility even in the smallest of the age groups studied [5-7 years].
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