Heterogeneity in post-intervention prolapse and urinary outcome reporting: a one-year review of the International Urogynecology Journal.

INTRODUCTION: This review aimed to examine post-intervention prolapse, incontinence, and overactive bladder outcome measures published in the International Urogynecology Journal over the previous year and to report on the heterogeneity in outcome reporting.
METHODS: All original article abstracts published in the print version of the International Urogynecology Journal in 2014 were reviewed for possible inclusion. Those reporting on prolapse and/or incontinence and/or overactive bladder outcomes following a urogynecological intervention were analyzed. Articles were reviewed for all reported outcomes. Outcomes were categorized as primary or secondary and objective or subjective.
RESULTS: Of 117 original articles published, 45 were reviewed. Among primary outcomes, 9 different outcomes were reported for prolapse and 11 for incontinence and overactive bladder. For prolapse, 6 different objective and 13 subjective outcomes were reported. For incontinence, 21 objective and 36 subjective outcomes were reported. Three different definitions were used for the outcome of "prolapse cure," 3 for "prolapse recurrence," and 4 for "stress incontinence cure." Several validated and non-validated questionnaires in addition to single unvalidated questions were used to measure subjective outcomes.
CONCLUSIONS: This research highlights the diversity in outcome reporting for prolapse, incontinence, and overactive bladder after an intervention in the last year of publications alone. This can lead to serious challenges in the generation of higher order evidence, such as systematic reviews and meta-analyses. As a subspecialty, we need to aim for more cohesive reporting so as to allow for robust comparison and evidence dissemination.