title: Effect of extracorporeal magnetic energy stimulation on bothersome lower urinary tract symptoms and quality of life in female patients with stress urinary incontinence and overactive bladder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of extracorporeal magnetic stimulation (EMS) for the treatment of bothersome and severe symptoms of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) in female patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review was conducted on patients with SUI and OAB who were referred to EMS therapy. Successful treatment for the bothersome symptoms of OAB and SUI was defined as score ≤1 for questions 2 and 3 on the Urodynamic Distress Inventory-6. The objective cure of SUI and OAB was defined as no urinary leakage during the cough stress test and any urgency, urge incontinence and voiding frequency of less than eight times per 24 h based on the 3-day bladder diary, after the 9 weeks of treatment, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-three patients with SUI or OAB underwent a 9-week course of EMS at 20 min twice weekly. Seventy-two (77%) patients completed EMS treatment. Geographical factor and poor economic status were two main factors for dropout. A total of 94.1% (32 of 34) and 86.8% (33 of 38) of subjects had successful treatment for the bothersome symptoms of OAB and SUI, respectively. In contrast, the cure rate for OAB and SUI was only 61.7% and 42.1%, respectively. There was also a significant improvement in both Urogenital Distress Inventory Short Form (bothersome on lower urinary tract symptoms) and the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire Short Form (quality of life) total score in both groups after EMS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EMS is a safe and effective alternative method for treating SUI and OAB. Further studies are needed to evaluate the long-term efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Urogynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linko Medical Center, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tsia-Shu
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: Ling-Hong
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.forename: Yi-Hao
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Ching-Chung
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Ching-Yi
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Leng Boi
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Pue
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D055909:Magnetic Field Therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D053201:Urinary Bladder, Overactive / Q000628:therapy*; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: Incontinence Impact Questionnaire Short Form; Urodynamic Distress Inventory-6; extracorporeal magnetic stimulation; overactive bladder; stress urinary incontinence