Open AccessDifferential diagnosis of detrusor instability and stress‐incontinence by patient history: The Gaudenz‐Incontinence‐Questionnaire revisited
Author(s) -
Haeusler Guenther,
Hanzal Engelbert,
Joura Eva,
Sam Christine,
Koelbl Heinz
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.3109/00016349509013477
Subject(s) - medicine , detrusor instability , urinary incontinence , stress incontinence , medical diagnosis , differential diagnosis , urodynamic testing , urology , urge incontinence , physical examination , gynecology , surgery , radiology , pathology
Objective. To evaluate the validity of the Gaudenz‐Incontinence‐Questionnaire in the differential diagnosis of genuine stress‐incontinence and detrusor instability. Design. Diagnoses based on questionnaire‐results were compared to those following complete urogynecologic assessment including urodynamics in 1938 patients with lower urinary tract symptoms. Results. Sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of stress‐incontinence were 0.559 and 0.447. respectively, for detrusor instability 0.615 and 0.563, respectively. Conclusion. The low sensitivity and specificity of the test do not justify its use as a diagnostic tool in patients with urinary incontinence. These results show that the scores may be misleading in a large proportion of patients and should not therefore be the only determinant of diagnosis, nor should strategies be based on history alone.