SYMPTOMS ANALYSIS FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF GENUINE STRESS-INCONTINENCE

Objective-To determine the accuracy of an analysis of symptoms alone for the diagnosis of genuine stress incontinence. Design-A comparison of results of symptoms analysis with urodynamic findings. Setting-A gynaecological video-urodynamic unit. Subjects-252 consecutive patients referred for urodynamic investigations. Interventions-A questionnaire of 20 symptoms of lower urinary tract dysfunction, midstream specimen of urine, pad testing, uroflowmetry, and video-cystourethrography. Main Outcome Measures-Using the urodynamic diagnosis as the 'gold standard', the accuracy of discriminant function analysis of symptoms was determined. Results-Symptoms analysis achieved a correct classification of 81% with a false positive rate of 16%. Use of an accumulative probability curve defines patients who fall into the equivocal range. Conclusions-All women presenting with incontinence should undergo preoperative urodynamic studies.