To determine the prevalence of women who report avoiding exercise or stopping a workout due to lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in a community population, characterize symptoms in these women, and identify clinical and demographic factors associated with exercise cessation due to LUTS.
A cross-sectional online survey was administered to community-based women. The prevalence of having avoided exercise or stopped a workout due to LUTS was calculated. Clinical and demographic variables along with comprehensive urinary symptoms assessed by the Lower Urinary Tract Research Network-Symptom Index (LURN-SI 29) were compared between women with and without the outcome. Multivariable logistic regression and random forest models were used to identify variables associated with the outcome.
Out of 1,707 women who completed the survey, 18.9% reported avoiding exercising or stopping a workout due to LUTS. For these women, multiple domains of LUTS were noted, including incontinence, pain, voiding difficulty, urgency, and nocturia. Multivariable logistic regression identified LURN SI-29 score, white race, and prior vaginal delivery as significantly associated with the outcome, while the random forest model identified LURN SI-29 score, age, and BMI as most important.
In a population-based study, 1 in 5 women reported avoiding exercise or stopping a workout due to LUTS. Their reported LUTS span multiple symptom domains, and factors associated with stopping exercise include symptom severity, older age, higher BMI, white race, and prior vaginal delivery. Addressing LUTS may improve resumption and continuation of exercise in women.
Urology. 2023 May 27 [Epub ahead of print]
Zoe S Gan, Ariana L Smith
Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Electronic address: ., Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.