Does patient age impact outcomes of neuromodulation?

Aims We evaluated whether patients stratified by age have the same level of risks/benefits after a staged neuromodulation procedure for refractory voiding symptoms. Methods Urologic diagnosis, complications, and revisions were collected from medical records of adults enrolled in our prospective observational study. Symptoms were assessed over 2 years with diaries, Interstitial Symptom-Problem Indices (ICSI-PI), and the Overactive Bladder Questionnaire-SF (OAB-q SF). 12-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12v2 (R)) mental (MCS) and physical (PCS) component summaries evaluated quality of life. Data were examined with Pearson Chi-square or Fisher's Exact test, Kruskal-Wallis tests, and repeated measures analyses. Results Patients (83% female) were grouped by age (years): <40 (n?=?46), 4064 (n?=?146), and =65 (n?=?136). Urge incontinence was predominant in the older groups and more patients <40 had interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS). In the <40, 4064, and =65 groups, respectively, generator implant (91%, 88%, and 89%) and explant (15%, 12%, and 10%) rates were similar. Complications (24%, 14%, and 9%; P?=?0.031) and revisions (20%, 5%, and 6%; P?=?0.0025) differed. For the three respective groups, urinary frequency (P?65 (P?=?0.0015). SF-12 PCS improved in those 4064 (P?=?0.0482) and MCS scores improved in the <40 and 4064 age groups (P?=?0.013 and P?=?0.0440, respectively). Conclusions These data suggest that neuromodulation success is not age dependent, however continued study is needed to confirm findings. Neurourol. Urodynam. 32: 3036, 2013. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.