Urinary Tract Symptoms in MS

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are common among patients with multiple sclerosis, however they remain largely untreated, according to an online, cross-sectional survey of 1,052 individuals with MS.

One or more lower urinary tract symptoms were present in 92% of subjects with the most common as follows:

• Post-micturition dribble (64.9%)

• Urinary urgency (61.7%)

• Feeling of incomplete emptying (60.7%)

• Some type of UTI (79%)

Of those with symptoms, 70% previously discussed it with a health care provider, however, only 32% had seen a health care provider in the past year. Patients were more likely to seek treatment for urgency, intermittent urine stream, and urgency urinary incontinence.

Citation: Khalaf KM, Coyne KS, Globe DR, Armstrong EP, Malone DC, Burks J. Lower urinary tract symptom prevalence and management among patients with multiple sclerosis. Int J MS Care. 2015;17(1):14-25. doi: 10.7224/1537-2073.2013-040.