Role of symptom scoring and uroflowmetry in patients with diabetic cystopathy

Forty-two patients with diabetes mellitus were evaluated by uroflowmetry and the AUA Symptom Index. After urodynamic and physiological investigations 12 patients were diagnosed as having diabetic cystopathy, while 22 patients as being urodynamically normal. In patients with diabetic cystopathy, most of the parameters in uroflowmetry were significantly different from those of normal subjects. Subjective symptom assessment revealed increased total obstructive scoring (p < 0.05). However, irritative symptom indexes in patients with diabetic cystopathy were not different from those of the normal subjects. Although uroflowmetry and the AUA Symptom Index are not specific to identify detrusor impairment, these methods appeared to be useful to decide upon further urodynamic investigations.