Intravaginal Electrical Stimulation With Different Treatment Frequency in Women With Idiopathic Overactive Bladder

Efficacy of Intravaginal Electrical Stimulation With Different Treatment Frequency in Women With Idiopathic Overactive Bladder: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial

Electrical stimulation (ES) is one of the techniques used in urogynecological physiotherapy, which uses implanted or non-implanted electrodes. Intravaginal ES (IVES) is a conservative treatment option, described more than 40 years ago. IVES is used in patients with OAB and urge urinary incontinence (UUI), for detrusor inhibition. It has been suggested that IVES probably targets the detrusor muscle or pelvic floor muscle (PFM) or afferent innervation in UUI. According to the European Association Urology (EAU) Guidelines; in adults with urinary incontinence, ES may improve urinary incontinence compared to sham treatment. The IVES programs lasted between 4 weeks and 6 months in women with idiopathic OAB, although generally IVES was applied for 4-12 weeks. In most studies, IVES was applied 2-3 times a week, whereas in fewer studies it was applied more frequently. Despite that, no randomised studies compared different treatment frequencies in women with idiopathic OAB and thus, there is no evidence of which frequencies of treatment are the most effective ones. It should be kept in mind that different stimulation frequency may lead to different results. In addition, in the light of scientific evidence and our clinical experience, we think that this issue is still open for research. Better methodological quality studies are needed to obtain a higher level of scientific evidence and to know the optimal treatment frequency for OAB.

Our study is the first prospective randomized controlled trial that compares the efficacy of IVES with different treatment frequency in women with idiopathic OAB. In this study, we aimed to assess the efficacy of 2 times and 5 times in a week IVES added to BT on quality of life (QoL) and clinical parameters asssociated with idiopathic OAB. The results of the our study will be of great benefit in deciding or preferring the treatment frequency and total treatment duration of IVES for the women with idiopathic OAB and their physicians.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Overactive Bladder
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Intravaginal Electrical Stimulation (2 times/week); Device: Intravaginal Electrical Stimulation (5 times/week)

Detailed Description

This study is a prospective, randomized controlled trial. The trial is held at Urogynecological Rehabilitation Unit of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department between February 2021 and July 2021. The local ethics committee approve the study (E-60116787-020-4274). All women are informed about the purpose and contents of the study and all women written consent to participate in the study.

A random allocation sequence was generated at 1:1 ratio. By using a random number generator, women are randomized into two groups as follows: Group 1 receive BT+IVES (2 times/week), Group 2 receive BT+IVES (5 times/week).

All women which are planned to treat during 20 sessions are included in this study.

Bladder Training (BT) All women were informed about BT for 30 minutes in two groups. Then it was given as a written brochure to be implemented as a home program. BT, consisting of four stages, did not contain any PFM training programs. At the first stage, all of the women visited the physician who was blinded to the study groups and at the initial visit, the women were familiarized with the location of the PFM and the pelvic anatomy and pathophysiology. After that information session, squeezing the PFM was shown in practice at least once to use in the urgency suppression strategies via digital palpation technique. In the second stage, including urgency suppression strategies, it was aimed to delay urination, to inhibit detrusor contraction and to prevent urgency; by squeezing the PFM several times in a row (women were encouraged to pause/stop their work, sit down if possible, relax the entire body and squeeze PFM repeatedly), breathing deeply, giving their attention to another job for a while and self-motivating (I can do it, I can check the urination, etc.). In the third stage, timed voiding program was started. It was carried out in 2 steps: timed voiding and increasing the time between urination considering the voiding diary. At the last stage, the women were encouraged to continue BT. By increasing their motivation that it is an effective treatment method, compliance to the treatment was increased.

Group 1: IVES (2 times in a week) This group included the IVES in addition to all components of the BT. IVES was performed in lithotomy position via electrical stimulation device with a vaginal probe. IVES sessions were performed two times in a week, for 10 weeks. Every session lasted 20 minutes. The intervention comprised a 20-sessions treatment program of ES. The stimulation parameters were frequency at 10 Hz, a 5-10s work-rest cycle and 100 ms pulse width. The symmetric biphasic pulse wave could be delivered over a range of 0-100 milliamp (mA). The intensity was controlled according to patients' discomfort level feedback.

Group 2: IVES (5 times in a week) This group also included the IVES in addition to all components of the BT as in Group 1. IVES performed in the same way as Group 1, except for frequency of treatment. IVES sessions were performed five times in a week, for 4 weeks. Every session lasted 20 minutes. The intervention comprised a 20-sessions treatment program of ES. Stimulation parameters were the same as Group 1.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 52
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Kınıklı
    • Denizli, Kınıklı, Turkey, 20100
      • Pamukkale University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 14 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Women ≥ 18 years old with clinical diagnosis of idiopathic overactive bladder
• Not tolerated or unresponsive to antimuscarinics and discontinued at least 4 weeks
• Able to give written, informed consent
• Able to understand the procedures, advantages and possible side effects
• Willing and able to complete the voiding diary and quality of life questionnaire
• The strength of pelvic floor muscle score 3/5 and more

Exclusion Criteria:

• Women with stress urinary incontinence
• History of conservative therapy for idiopathic overactive bladder within 6 months
• Pregnancy or intention to become pregnant during the study
• Current vulvovaginitis or urinary tract infections or malignancy
• History of urogynecological surgery within 3 months
• Anatomic structural disorders of genital region that could not allow to apply the vaginal probe
• More than stage 2 according to the pelvic organ prolapse quantification
• Cardiac pacemaker or implanted defibrillator
• Neurogenic bladder, signs of neurologic abnormalities at objective examination; history of the peripheral or central neurologic pathology
• Ultrasonographic evidence of post-void residual urine volume > 100 ml
• Allergy to condom or lubricant gel that is used with perineometer/vaginal probe

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Group 1: IVES (2 times in a week); This group included the IVES in addition to all components of the BT. IVES was performed in lithotomy position via electrical stimulation device with a vaginal probe.	Device: Intravaginal Electrical Stimulation (2 times/week); IVES sessions were performed two times in a week, for 10 weeks. Every session lasted 20 minutes. The intervention comprised a 20-sessions treatment program of ES. The stimulation parameters were frequency at 10 Hz, a 5-10s work-rest cycle and 100 ms pulse width. The symmetric biphasic pulse wave could be delivered over a range of 0-100 mA. The intensity was controlled according to patients' discomfort level feedback.
Experimental: Group 2: IVES (5 times in a week); This group also included the IVES in addition to all components of the BT as in Group 1. IVES performed in the same way as Group 1, except for frequency of treatment.	Device: Intravaginal Electrical Stimulation (5 times/week); IVES performed in the same way as Group 1, except for frequency of treatment. IVES sessions were performed five times in a week, for 4 weeks. Every session lasted 20 minutes. The intervention comprised a 20-sessions treatment program of ES. Stimulation parameters were the same as Group 1.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Incontinence episodes-Incontinence related outcome measure	Women with a 50% or greater reduction in incontinence episodes were considered positive responders	20 minutes

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Severity of incontinence-Incontinence related outcome measure	The 24-hour pad test was carried out to evaluate urinary loss	20 sessions (each sessions is 20 minutes )
Nocturia-Incontinence related outcome measure	It was used "nocturia" from data with a 3-day bladder diary	20 sessions (each sessions is 20 minutes )
Frequency-Incontinence related outcome measure	It was used "frequency" from data with a 3-day bladder diary	20 sessions (each sessions is 20 minutes )
Number of Pads-Incontinence related outcome measure	It was used "number of bads" from data with a 3-day bladder diary	20 sessions (each sessions is 20 minutes )
Symptom severity-Incontinence related outcome measure	Overactive Bladder Questionnaire (OAB-V8) was used to evaluate symptom severity in patients with in the study.	20 sessions (each sessions is 20 minutes )
PFM strength-Incontinence related outcome measure	To evaluate the PFM strength perineometer device	20 sessions (each sessions is 20 minutes )
Quality of Life (QoL)-Incontinence related outcome measure	The incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7)scale was used to assess the patient's QoL associated with incontinence problem. The Scale has a minimum score of 0 and a maximum score of 21. Higher scores indicate worse incontinence related QoL.	20 sessions (each sessions is 20 minutes )
Cure measured by 24-hour pad test	In 24-hour pad test, incontinence that was under 1.3 gr was considered as a cure.	20 sessions (each sessions is 20 minutes )
Improvement rate-Incontinence related outcome measure	The improvement was assessed in terms of 50% and more reduction in wet weight compared to baseline measurements in the 24-hour pad test.	20 sessions (each sessions is 20 minutes )

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Pamukkale University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 5, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 30, 2021
• Study Completion (Actual): July 15, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 25, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 1, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): February 2, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): November 1, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 31, 2022
• Last Verified: October 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: bladder training; idiopathic overactive bladder; intravaginal electrical stimulation
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Urologic Diseases; Urinary Bladder Diseases; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms; Urological Manifestations; Urinary Bladder, Overactive
• Other Study ID Numbers: E-60116787-020-4274

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No