Objective: To assess the feasibility and efficacy of bladder training for troublesome lower urinary tract symptoms in Parkinson’s disease.

Background: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are common in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and are associated with poorer quality of life (QOL).

Method: Single centre, single blinded, randomised controlled trial. Participants with a history of PD and troublesome LUTS were randomised to a 12 week bladder training program (BT) or conservative advice (CA). Outcome measures included: a 3 day volume frequency diary, ICIQ-OAB and ICIQ-QOL. Co-primary endpoints were 1) patient perception of change and 2) change in number of urgency episodes at 12 weeks. Secondary endpoints included change in ICIQ scores, number of micturitions and volume voided.

Results: 38 participants were randomised (18 to conservative advice, 20 to bladder training). Both CA and BT were associated with significant improvements in volume voided, number of micturitions, symptom severity scores and measures of quality of life (all P<0.05). At 12 weeks, compared to conservative advice, BT was associated with significant superiority on patient perception of improvement (P=0.001), significantly greater reductions in number of voids in 24 hours [mean decrease 2.3 +/-0.8 voids vs. 0.3 +/-0.5 (P<0.05)] and greater reductions in interference with daily life [2.1 +/- 0.8 point improvement vs. 0.3 +/- 0.7 point deterioration (P<0.05)].

Conclusion: This study is the first controlled trial to demonstrate the potential benefits of BT for LUTS in PD.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/bladder-training-for-urinary-tract-symptoms-in-pd-a-randomised-controlled-trial/