title: Prognostic factors for recent-onset interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome.
abstract: Study Type - Prognosis (case series) Level of Evidence 4 What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS) comprises pain perceived to be from the bladder, urinary urgency and frequency, and nocturia. As diagnosed at present, it is primarily identified in adult women. It is a chronic disease yet its natural history has not been well studied. In a prospective study of 304 incident female IC/PBS cases followed for a median of 33 months after onset, women with baseline chronic fatigue syndrome had a worse prognosis for IC/PBS. Mild IC/PBS at baseline was the only variable that was directly associated with a good prognosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify baseline variables that predict the prognosis of interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS) in women seeking medical care for recent onset of this syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective study of women with incident IC/PBS (≤12 months of symptoms), we contacted patients at intervals and asked standardized questions about IC/PBS symptoms in the previous week. Logistic regression analyses assessed baseline variables as predictors of mild vs more severe IC/PBS at the last follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median length of follow-up was 33 months after onset of IC/PBS; 304 (97%) patients had at least one follow-up assessment. Mild IC/PBS at baseline was the only variable that was directly associated with a mild IC/PBS endpoint. Conversely, a history of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) was inversely associated with a mild endpoint of IC/PBS (i.e. individuals with CFS had a worse prognosis for their IC/PBS symptoms).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At a median of nearly 3 years after onset, baseline mild IC/PBS was directly associated with a milder disease severity. Baseline co-morbid CFS was associated with more severe disease. Whether CFS was uniquely associated or represented several co-morbid non-bladder syndromes (NBSs) could not be determined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. jwarren@medicine.umaryland.edu
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Clauw
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Langenberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018856:Cystitis, Interstitial / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors