[Comparison of the symptoms of overactive bladder in women with mixed urinary incontinence and idiopathic urge urinary incontinence.]

INTRODUCTION: Various authors argued that the voiding urgency component in mixed urinary incontinence (MUI) is different than urge urinary incontinence (UUI). In this last case they suggest that incontinence in MUI could be overdiagnosed in patients with SUI, misunderstanding the leak as UUI.

OBJETIVES: To evaluate clinical and urodynamic characteristics of patients with MUI and pure UUI.

METHODS: A retrospective study of our urodynamics database was performed evaluating 450 women with MUI and UUI. Patients with neurogenic bladder, fistulae, urethral diverticula, previous urogynecologic surgery, known infravesical obstruction, previous pelvic radiotherapy, urinary tract infection or psychiatric drugs intake. A full clinical history, physical exam, uroflowmetry, filling cystometry and pressure flow study were performed.

RESULTS: There is no difference relative to age, menopause and number of births. The presence of nocturia was bigger in the UUI group (66.4% vs. 46.1%, p 0.0004) the same as increased voiding frequency (53.6% vs. 34.6%, p 0.0006). The presence of urethral hypermobility and SUI in the physical exam was greater than MUI, meanwhile the presence of reduced vaginal trophism was bigger in the UUI group. Differences in sensibility or specificity were not found. The presence of overactive detrusor was 56.4% in pure UUI vs. 33.2% in MUI (p<0.0001). No differences in pressure flow study were found.

CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant difference in the clinical and urodynamic parameters between patients with MUI and pure UUI. The urgency in patients with pure UUI could be related to overactive detrusor. It is probable that many patients with MUI just have pure SUI which could lead to positive effects in the outcomes of anti-incontinence surgery.