title: Prevalence of symptoms related to interstitial cystitis in women: a population based study in Finland.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Interstitial cystitis is a chronic inflammatory bladder disease. Despite intensive research its prevalence, etiology, diagnosis and appropriate treatment remain elusive. We estimated the prevalence of urinary symptoms related to interstitial cystitis in women in Finland.
  
  
  METHODS
  We randomly selected 2,000 study participants 18 to 71 years old from the Finnish population register. The prevalence of urinary symptoms was evaluated using the validated O'Leary-Sant interstitial cystitis symptom and problem index questionnaire, which was mailed to subjects. Women with high (12 or greater) symptom and problem scores, including nocturia 2 or greater, pain 2 or greater, and excluding urinary infection and pregnancy, were considered most likely to have interstitial cystitis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate after 2 mailings was 67.2% (1,343 respondents). After further exclusions 1,331 women (66.6%) comprised the final study group. Of these 1,331 respondents 11 (0.8%) reported severe symptoms and problems (12 or greater), including 6 (0.45%) who fulfilled the criteria for probable interstitial cystitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of urinary symptoms corresponding to probable interstitial cystitis is 450/100.000 (95% confidence interval 100 to 800), which is an order of magnitude higher than previously reported.
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, Seinäjoki Central Hospital, Seinäjoki, Finland.
authors.forename: Mikael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leppilahti
authors.forename: Teuvo L J
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Tammela
authors.forename: Heini
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huhtala
authors.forename: Anssi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Auvinen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018856:Cystitis, Interstitial / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology