OBJECTIVE:To understand the prevalence of chronic perineal pain, activity limitations, and patient satisfaction after urethroplasty. METHODS:From 2014 to 2016, we prospectively enrolled men undergoing urethroplasty for bulbar urethral strictures. Patients, before and after surgery, completed questions from the Core Lower Urinary Tract Symptom Score assessing pain frequency in the bladder and penis or urethra, as well as nonvalidated questions assessing perineal pain. Overall satisfaction with their current urinary condition and pain-related activity limitations at home, work, or during exercise were also measured. Patients with <3 months of follow-up were excluded. Pre-and postoperative scores were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. RESULTS:Thirty-five men were included in the study. Mean age and body mass index were 44.6 years and 30.9 kg/m2, respectively. Urethroplasties were anastomotic in 24 (69%) and were single-stage buccal graft substitution in 11 (31%). Median follow-up after surgery was 483 days (range: 90-810 days). A total of 10 patients (29%) reported worsening perineal pain intensity after surgery, whereas 8 (23%) reported improvement and 17 (48%) reported no change. Overall, pain frequency in the bladder, penis or urethra, and perineum improved. Home and exercise pain-related activity restrictions improved significantly after surgery. Satisfaction with current urinary condition also improved with 91% reporting feeling "delighted," "pleased," or "mostly satisfied" with their current condition. CONCLUSION:Patients are highly satisfied with their urinary condition after urethroplasty. Pain frequency in the bladder and the urethra significantly improves after urethroplasty; however, perineal pain intensity can worsen and become chronic after surgery in some patients.

Purpose

We examined the relationship between glycemic control and urinary tract infections in women with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Materials and methods

Women enrolled in the Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications study, the observational followup of the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial, were surveyed to assess the rate of physician diagnosed urinary tract infections in the preceding 12 months. The relationship between glycated hemoglobin levels and number of urinary tract infections in the previous 12 months was assessed using a multivariable Poisson regression model.

Results

A total of 572 women were evaluated at year 17. Mean age was 50.7 ± 7.2 years, mean body mass index was 28.6 ± 5.9 kg/m(2), mean type 1 diabetes duration was 29.8 ± 5.0 years and mean glycated hemoglobin was 8.0% ± 0.9%. Of these women 86 (15.0%) reported at least 1 physician diagnosed urinary tract infection during the last 12 months. Higher glycated hemoglobin levels were significantly associated with number of urinary tract infections such that for every unit increase (1%) in recent glycated hemoglobin level, there was a 21% (p=0.02) increase in urinary tract infection frequency in the previous 12 months after adjusting for race, hysterectomy status, urinary incontinence, sexual activity in the last 12 months, peripheral and autonomic neuropathy, and nephropathy.

Conclusions

The frequency of urinary tract infections increases with poor glycemic control in women with type 1 diabetes. This relationship is independent of other well described predictors of urinary tract infections and suggests that factors directly related to glycemic control may influence the risk of lower urinary tract infections.