title: Do symptoms of voiding dysfunction predict urinary retention?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We assessed the relationship between symptoms of voiding dysfunction and elevated postvoid urinary residual (PVR).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study of women presenting for initial evaluation from February through July 2011. Charts were reviewed for demographics, voiding dysfunction symptoms, and examination findings. Urinary retention was defined as PVR of 100 ml or more. Data are presented as median (interquartile range) or proportion; test characteristics are reported with 95% confidence intervals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 641 eligible women, 57 women (8.9%) had urinary retention. Of these, 32 women (56.1%) had at least one symptom of voiding dysfunction, most commonly, sensation of incomplete emptying (30.1%). Sensitivity and positive predictive values of voiding dysfunction symptoms were low. Of 254 women reporting voiding symptoms, most (87.5%) had PVR of less than 100 ml and were significantly more likely to have other pelvic floor symptoms and findings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients' symptoms do not predict urinary retention. Postvoid urinary residual should be measured, and other causes of voiding dysfunction symptoms should be considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mount Auburn Hospital, Cambridge, MA, USA. aadelowo@mah.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Amos O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Adelowo
authors.forename: Michele R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Hacker
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Merport Modest
authors.forename: Eman A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Elkadry
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016055:Urinary Retention / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000150:complications*