The effects of gestational diabetes on lower urinary tract symptoms of pregnant women: a case-control study

Abstract

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are common health problems in pregnant women. The aim of this case-control study was to evaluate the effects of GDM on LUTS in pregnant women. This study was conducted with 44 pregnant women diagnosed with GDM and 44 pregnant without GDM. Patients with GDM had significantly lower likelihood of experiencing urgency (7.069-fold lower likelihood); whereas they had significantly greater likelihoods for urinary incontinence (UI) during sexual intercourse (OR: 0.185; 5.4-fold higher), need for clothing change due to UI (OR: 0.268; 3.7-fold higher), and adverse effects on daily life due to UI (OR: 0.338; 2.9-fold higher) compared to women without GDM (p < .05 for all). Although pregnant women with GDM appear to have a lower likelihood of urgency, this may be associated with the adverse effects of GDM since the likelihoods for UI-related outcomes were increased and quality of life was reduced among pregnant women with GDM compared to those without GDM.

Impact statement

• What is already known on this subject? Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are very common among pregnant women, and negatively affect social, sexual and working life. There are many risk factors that affect the development of LUTS in pregnant women. It is stated that gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) may be a predisposing factor in the development of LUTS in women.

• What do the results of this study add? Women with GDM experienced storage symptoms at a lower frequency (especially urgency) compared to the control group. In addition, we determined worse quality of life among women with GDM who experienced a greater frequency of urinary incontinence.

• What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? It may be beneficial to provide training on the prevention and management of LUTS to all pregnant women, especially women with GDM, and to increase the sensitivity of health professionals on the subject.

Keywords:

• Lower urinary tract symptoms
• gestational diabetes
• pregnant women
• case-control study

Acknowledgements

The authors thank each of the pregnant women for their participation in this research.

Disclosure statement

The authors did not report any potential conflicts of interest.