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Risk factors for painful bladder syndrome in women seeking gynecologic care.

Kennedy CM, Bradley CS, Galask RP, Nygaard IE

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. colleen-kennedy@uiowa.edu

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to report risk factors for painful bladder syndrome in women. We surveyed 645 women presenting for care to general gynecology clinics and a vulvar specialty clinic using a standardized questionnaire and validated outcome measures. We used two definitions for painful bladder syndrome, based on the O'Leary-Sant interstitial cystitis symptom and problem indices. Of those women surveyed, 29.5% met broader criteria and 8.5% met more restrictive criteria for painful bladder syndrome. After adjusting for confounders, bladder pain was significantly associated with current smoking, irritable bowel syndrome, and a generalized pain disorder. Tobacco use, the only modifiable association noted on multivariate analysis, has not been previously identified to our knowledge.

Published 12 December 2005 in Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct, 17(1): 73-8.
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