Painful Bladder Filling and Painful Urgency are Distinct Characteristics in Men and Women with Urological Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndromes: A MAPP Research Network Study

Purpose: We describe bladder associated symptoms in patients with urological chronic pelvic pain syndromes. We correlated these symptoms with urological, nonurological, psychosocial and quality of life measures. Materials and Methods: Study participants included 233 women and 191 men with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome or chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome in a multicenter study. They completed a battery of measures, including items asking whether pain worsened with bladder filling (painful filling) or whether the urge to urinate was due to pain, pressure or discomfort (painful urgency). Participants were categorized into 3 groups, including group 1-painful filling and painful urgency (both), 2 painful filling or painful urgency (either) and 3-no painful filling or painful urgency (neither). Results: Of the men 75% and of the women 88% were categorized as both or either. These bladder characteristics were associated with more severe urological symptoms (increased pain, frequency and urgency), a higher somatic symptom burden, depression and worse quality of life (3-group trend test each p <0.01). A gradient effect was observed across the groups (both > either > neither). Compared to those in the neither group men categorized as both or either reported more frequent urological chronic pelvic pain syndrome symptom flares, catastrophizing and irritable bowel syndrome, and women categorized as both or either were more likely to have a negative affect and chronic fatigue syndrome. Conclusions: Men and women with bladder symptoms characterized as painful filling or painful urgency had more severe urological symptoms, more generalized symptoms and worse quality of life than participants who reported neither characteristic, suggesting that these symptom characteristics might represent important subsets of patients with urological chronic pelvic pain syndromes.