OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the quality of life of patients with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS), to compare the difference between IC/BPS and overactive bladder (OAB) pain syndrome, and to explore the related factors affecting the quality of life of IC/BPS patients. METHODS: The demographic data of female outpatients with IC/BPS in Beijing Hospital and other medical centers in China were collected. The quality of life of the patients was investigated by multi-angle questionnaires and compared with the data of OAB patients. According to the influence degree of quality of life, the patients with IC/BPS were divided into mild-moderate group and severe group. RESULTS: In this study, 109 patients with IC/BPS were included. The average age was (46.4±14.3) years and the average course of disease was (39.4±51.6) months. Compared with the OAB patients, the patients in IC/BPS group had a longer average course of disease (P=0.008), a lower proportion of the patients of first visit for the disease (P < 0.001), a higher score of the American Urological Association symptom index (AUA-SI) (P < 0.001), a lower body mass index (BMI) ratio (P=0.016), and a lower incidence of constipation (P=0.006). IC/BPS had the greatest impact on family life, followed by social activity. The score of IC/BPS related symptoms on family life was significantly higher than that of the OAB group (P=0.003). The top three symptoms of the IC/BPS patients were pain (45%), frequency (28%) and urgency (17%). The score of quality of life in the IC/BPS patients was significantly higher than that in the OAB patients (P < 0.001). Caffeine intake (P=0.034) and constipation (P=0.003) might be the factors influencing the quality of life of the patients with IC/BPS. CONCLUSION IC/BPS has a great influence on the quality of life of patients. Caffeine intake and constipation may be related factors affecting the quality of life of patients with IC/BPS. Urologists should recommend changes in diet and lifestyle to reduce symptoms and improve the patients' quality of life.
Adult ; Cystitis, Interstitial/epidemiology* ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pain ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Urinary Bladder, Overactive/epidemiology*

BACKGROUNDDespite 100 years of research, the continued absence of well-established risk factors impedes the diagnosis and treatment of interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS). We aimed to identify risk factors in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) without urinary tract infection or benign prostate hyperplasia in China.

METHODSA total of 397 outpatients with LUTS presenting for care to urology clinics in several hospitals throughout China were surveyed using a standardized questionnaire and validated outcome measures. The definitions for painful bladder syndrome based on the O'Leary-Sant interstitial cystitis symptom and problem indices were used. The prevalence of possible risk factors was analyzed using the Fisher's exact test and Pearson chi-square test, and multivariate predictive models were developed using binary Logistic regression methods.

RESULTSOf those multi-centre patients surveyed, including 174 women and 223 men, 41% (162/397) met criteria for painful bladder syndrome. There was a significant difference between women and men (55% (95/174) vs. 30% (67/223), P < 0.001). Women with IC/PBS were more likely than those without IC/PBS to report a history of gynecological infections (odds ratio (OR): 2.85; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.32 - 6.16, P = 0.007), intake of stimulatory foods (OR: 3.52; 95%CI: 1.50 - 8.30; P = 0.004), irritable bowel (OR: 3.46; 95%CI: 1.22 - 9.80; P = 0.014) and/or anorectal disease (OR: 2.68; 95%CI: 1.12 - 6.40, P = 0.023). After adjusting for confounding factors, bladder pain was significantly associated with stimulatory foods (OR: 3.85; 95%CI: 1.58 - 9.36, P = 0.003) and anorectal disease (OR: 2.76; 95%CI: 1.09 - 7.04, P = 0.03) in women. Caffeine beverage intake (OR: 3.54; 95%CI: 1.54 - 8.12, P = 0.003) was identified the only modifiable association noted in multivariate analysis of men.

CONCLUSIONSWe found that stimulatory foods, anorectal disease and caffeine beverages are potential risk factors for IC/PBS. Further studies are necessary to determine their role in the pathogenesis of this disorder.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; Cystitis, Interstitial ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prevalence ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; complications ; Risk Factors ; Sex Characteristics ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Urination Disorders ; complications