Is the prevalence of overactive bladder overestimated? : A population-based study in Finland

Background. In earlier studies, one in six adults had overactive bladder which may impair quality of life. However, earlier studies have either not been population-based or have suffered from methodological limitations. Our aim was to assess the prevalence of overactive bladder symptoms, based on a representative study population and using consistent definitions and exclusions. Methodology/Principal Findings. The aim of the study was to assess the age-standardized prevalence of overactive bladder defined as urinary urgency, with or without urgency incontinence, usually with urinary frequency and nocturia in the absence of urinary tract infection or other obvious pathology. In 2003-2004, a questionnaire was mailed to 6,000 randomly selected Finns aged 18-79 years who were identified from the Finnish Population Register Centre. Information on voiding symptoms was collected using the validated Danish Prostatic Symptom Score, with additional frequency and nocturia questions. Corrected prevalence was calculated with adjustment for selection bias due to non-response. The questionnaire also elicited co-morbidity and socio-demographic information. Of the 6,000 subjects, 62.4% participated. The prevalence of overactive bladder was 6.5% (95% CI, 5.5% to 7.6%) for men and 9.3% (CI, 7.9% to 10.6%) for women. Exclusion of men with benign prostatic hyperplasia reduced prevalence among men by approximately one percentage point (to 5.6% [CI, 4.5% to 6.6%]). Among subjects with overactive bladder, urgency incontinence, frequency, and nocturia were reported by 11%, 23%, and 56% of men and 27%, 38%, and 40% of women, respectively. However, only 31% of men and 35% of women with frequency, and 31% of subjects of both sexes with nocturia reported overactive bladder. Conclusions/Significance. Our results indicate a prevalence of overactive bladder as low as 8% suggesting that, in previous studies, occurrence has been overestimated due to vague criteria and selected study populations regarding age distribution and low participation.Background. In earlier studies, one in six adults had overactive bladder which may impair quality of life. However, earlier studies have either not been population-based or have suffered from methodological limitations. Our aim was to assess the prevalence of overactive bladder symptoms, based on a representative study population and using consistent definitions and exclusions. Methodology/Principal Findings. The aim of the study was to assess the age-standardized prevalence of overactive bladder defined as urinary urgency, with or without urgency incontinence, usually with urinary frequency and nocturia in the absence of urinary tract infection or other obvious pathology. In 2003-2004, a questionnaire was mailed to 6,000 randomly selected Finns aged 18-79 years who were identified from the Finnish Population Register Centre. Information on voiding symptoms was collected using the validated Danish Prostatic Symptom Score, with additional frequency and nocturia questions. Corrected prevalence was calculated with adjustment for selection bias due to non-response. The questionnaire also elicited co-morbidity and socio-demographic information. Of the 6,000 subjects, 62.4% participated. The prevalence of overactive bladder was 6.5% (95% CI, 5.5% to 7.6%) for men and 9.3% (CI, 7.9% to 10.6%) for women. Exclusion of men with benign prostatic hyperplasia reduced prevalence among men by approximately one percentage point (to 5.6% [CI, 4.5% to 6.6%]). Among subjects with overactive bladder, urgency incontinence, frequency, and nocturia were reported by 11%, 23%, and 56% of men and 27%, 38%, and 40% of women, respectively. However, only 31% of men and 35% of women with frequency, and 31% of subjects of both sexes with nocturia reported overactive bladder. Conclusions/Significance. Our results indicate a prevalence of overactive bladder as low as 8% suggesting that, in previous studies, occurrence has been overestimated due to vague criteria and selected study populations regarding age distribution and low participation.Background. In earlier studies, one in six adults had overactive bladder which may impair quality of life. However, earlier studies have either not been population-based or have suffered from methodological limitations. Our aim was to assess the prevalence of overactive bladder symptoms, based on a representative study population and using consistent definitions and exclusions. Methodology/Principal Findings. The aim of the study was to assess the age-standardized prevalence of overactive bladder defined as urinary urgency, with or without urgency incontinence, usually with urinary frequency and nocturia in the absence of urinary tract infection or other obvious pathology. In 2003-2004, a questionnaire was mailed to 6,000 randomly selected Finns aged 18-79 years who were identified from the Finnish Population Register Centre. Information on voiding symptoms was collected using the validated Danish Prostatic Symptom Score, with additional frequency and nocturia questions. Corrected prevalence was calculated with adjustment for selection bias due to non-response. The questionnaire also elicited co-morbidity and socio-demographic information. Of the 6,000 subjects, 62.4% participated. The prevalence of overactive bladder was 6.5% (95% CI, 5.5% to 7.6%) for men and 9.3% (CI, 7.9% to 10.6%) for women. Exclusion of men with benign prostatic hyperplasia reduced prevalence among men by approximately one percentage point (to 5.6% [CI, 4.5% to 6.6%]). Among subjects with overactive bladder, urgency incontinence, frequency, and nocturia were reported by 11%, 23%, and 56% of men and 27%, 38%, and 40% of women, respectively. However, only 31% of men and 35% of women with frequency, and 31% of subjects of both sexes with nocturia reported overactive bladder. Conclusions/Significance. Our results indicate a prevalence of overactive bladder as low as 8% suggesting that, in previous studies, occurrence has been overestimated due to vague criteria and selected study populations regarding age distribution and low participation.Peer reviewe

Long-term Impact of Mode of Delivery on Stress Urinary Incontinence and Urgency Urinary Incontinence: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Context: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) are associated with physical and psychological morbidity, and large societal costs. The long-term effects of delivery modes on each kind of incontinence remain uncertain.Objective: To investigate the long-term impact of delivery mode on SUI and UUI.Evidence acquisition: We searched Medline, Scopus, CINAHL, and relevant major conference abstracts up to October 31, 2014, including any observational study with adjusted analyses or any randomized trial addressing the association between delivery mode and SUI or UUI >= 1 yr after delivery. Two reviewers extracted data, including incidence/prevalence of SUI and UUI by delivery modes, and assessed risk of bias.Evidence synthesis: Pooled estimates from 15 eligible studies demonstrated an increased risk of SUI after vaginal delivery versus cesarean section (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.85; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.56-2.19; I-2 = 57%; risk difference: 8.2%). Metaregression demonstrated a larger effect of vaginal delivery among younger women (p = 0.005). Four studies suggested no difference in the risk of SUI between spontaneous vaginal and instrumental delivery (aOR: 1.11; 95% CI, 0.84-1.45; I-2 = 50%). Eight studies suggested an elevated risk of UUI after vaginal delivery versus cesarean section (aOR: 1.30; 95% CI, 1.02-1.65; I-2 = 37%; risk difference: 2.6%).Conclusions: Compared with cesarean section, vaginal delivery is associated with an almost twofold increase in the risk of long-term SUI, with an absolute increase of 8%, and an effect that is largest in younger women. There is also an increased risk of UUI, with an absolute increase of approximately 3%.Patient summary: In this systematic review we looked for the long-term effects of childbirth on urinary leakage. We found that vaginal delivery is associated with an almost twofold increase in the risk of developing leakage with exertion, compared with cesarean section, with a smaller effect on leakage in association with urgency. (C) 2016 European Association of Urology. Published by Elsevier B.V

Effects of Anacetrapib in Patients with Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease

BACKGROUND: Patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease remain at high risk for cardiovascular events despite effective statin-based treatment of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. The inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) by anacetrapib reduces LDL cholesterol levels and increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels. However, trials of other CETP inhibitors have shown neutral or adverse effects on cardiovascular outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 30,449 adults with atherosclerotic vascular disease who were receiving intensive atorvastatin therapy and who had a mean LDL cholesterol level of 61 mg per deciliter (1.58 mmol per liter), a mean non-HDL cholesterol level of 92 mg per deciliter (2.38 mmol per liter), and a mean HDL cholesterol level of 40 mg per deciliter (1.03 mmol per liter). The patients were assigned to receive either 100 mg of anacetrapib once daily (15,225 patients) or matching placebo (15,224 patients). The primary outcome was the first major coronary event, a composite of coronary death, myocardial infarction, or coronary revascularization. RESULTS: During the median follow-up period of 4.1 years, the primary outcome occurred in significantly fewer patients in the anacetrapib group than in the placebo group (1640 of 15,225 patients [10.8%] vs. 1803 of 15,224 patients [11.8%]; rate ratio, 0.91; 95% confidence interval, 0.85 to 0.97; P=0.004). The relative difference in risk was similar across multiple prespecified subgroups. At the trial midpoint, the mean level of HDL cholesterol was higher by 43 mg per deciliter (1.12 mmol per liter) in the anacetrapib group than in the placebo group (a relative difference of 104%), and the mean level of non-HDL cholesterol was lower by 17 mg per deciliter (0.44 mmol per liter), a relative difference of -18%. There were no significant between-group differences in the risk of death, cancer, or other serious adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease who were receiving intensive statin therapy, the use of anacetrapib resulted in a lower incidence of major coronary events than the use of placebo. (Funded by Merck and others; Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN48678192 ; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01252953 ; and EudraCT number, 2010-023467-18 .)

Evaluation of laparoscopic colposuspension and the tension-free vaginal tape procedure in the surgical treatment of female stress urinary incontinence

Abstract Though not a life threatening condition, involuntary loss of urine is a miserable situation. It has a multidimensional effect on the afflicted individuals, both men and women – and for the society. The purpose of this study was to evaluate two modern, minimally invasive surgical techniques for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence (SUI). The techniques evaluated were laparoscopic colposuspension with mesh and staples (LCM) and the tension-free vaginal tape procedure (TVT). The study consisted of four parts. The first part (Study I) was an observational retrospective follow-up study. Data on the first forty patients operated on with LCM at Oulu University Hospital were collected. Patients had SUI or mixed urinary incontinence (MUI) with predominantly stress incontinence. The Studies II–IV were parts of a randomized, multicenter clinical trial, where LCM was compared with TVT. According to the predefined inclusion criteria 128 SUI women were randomly allocated into two treatment groups: 70 patients received TVT treatment as allocated and 51 LCM. There were seven drop-outs after randomization. After one year of follow-up the cure and improvement rate of the patients operated with LCM were ~ 90%. Also a significant improvement was found in Urinary Incontinence Severity Scores (UISS). At base line the score was 12.1 and after one year follow-up 2.7 (p < 0.001). The bladder perforation rate was 15%. In Study II immediate cure rates and complications of LCM and TVT were studied. After six weeks of follow-up there was no difference in cure rates (~ 90%) between the procedures. There was no difference in complication rates. A significant difference was found in the use of anti-inflammatory / opioid drugs in the immediate post-operative period to relief the pain in favour for TVT. Hospital care was also significantly shorter after TVT than LCM. After one year of follow-up (Study III) TVT was found to give better result both objectively and subjectively. Negative stress test result was recorded in 85.7% in the TVT group and 56.9% in the LCM group. A significant difference was also found, when Visual Analoque Scale (VAS), King's College Health Questionnaire (KHQ) and UISS were used as outcome measures, in the favour of TVT. When 48-hour pad test was used as outcome measure there was no statistically significant difference between the groups. The cost-effectiveness (Study IV) of TVT was found to be better than that of LCM after one year of follow-up. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest, that TVT procedure is on the whole a cost-effective alternative for LCM in the treatment of female SUI

Permutaatioiden ominaisuuksista

Pro gradu -tutkielmassani pyrin esittelemään lukijalle permutaatioiden ominaisuuksia ja sovellusmahdollisuuksia. Permutaatioiden teoria on keskeinen osa kaikkien matemaattisten ryhmien tutkimusta. Tutkielmani lähtee liikkeelle ryhmäteorian perusteista ja teoriaosuus päättyy ryhmän ratoja käsittelevään lukuun. Tutkielman lähteinä olen käyttänyt enimmäkseen Joseph J. Rotmanin kirjaa A first course in abstract algebra sekä Clive Reisin teosta Abstract algebra. Tutkielman rakenne noudattaa suurelta osin päälähteiden teorian käsittelyjärjestystä. Työn alussa kerrataan tutkielman kannalta olennaisia ryhmäteorian perustietoja määritelmin, lausein ja esimerkein. Esitiedoissa määritellään ryhmä, aliryhmä, normaali aliryhmä, aliryhmän sivuluokat sekä ryhmähomomorfismi. Seuraavasta luvusta lähtien keskitytään varsinaiseen aiheeseen eli permutaatioihin ja symmetriseen ryhmään. Toisessa luvussa nähdään permutaatiolle syklimuotoinen esitys, sekä monia sykleihin liittyviä ominaisuuksia. Lisäksi määritellään permutaation pariteetti, alternoiva ryhmä, sekä tutustutaan permutaatioiden konjugointiin. Toisen luvun tärkein tulos on alternoivan ryhmän yksinkertaisuus, jonka todistamiseksi esitellään melko laskennallinen tapa. Kolmannen luvun alussa nähdään Arthur Cayleyn lauseen myötä, että jokainen ryhmä voidaan esittää jonkin permutaatioryhmän avulla. Kolmannessa luvussa esitellään yleisemmin, mitä on ryhmän operointi, ja mikä on ryhmän rata. Luvun lopussa esiteltävä ei-Burnsiden lemma on erittäin käyttökelpoinen apuväline permutaatioryhmien ratojen laskemiseksi. Viimeisessä luvussa esitellään yksi historian tunnetuimmista logiikkapeleistä, 15-peli, sekä siihen liittyvään tehtävään permutaatioiden pariteettia hyödyntävä ratkaisu. Lisäksi nähdään vielä muutama esimerkki Ei-Burnsiden lemman käytöstä