In a first of its kind study, researchers from Seoul National University Hospital in Korea examined the impact of posture in bladder testing of men diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH. The researchers learned that body position plays a vital role in BPH test efficacy. Most notably, those who were tested while lying down produced better, more accurate results. The results of the research, “The effect of posture and repetition on urodynamic parameters: A prospective randomized study,” were published in Investigative and Clinical Urology.
What is BPH?
BPH occurs when the prostate increases in size. While not cancerous, it is accompanied by certain uncomfortable side effects, most notably problems with urination. Left undiagnosed or untreated, it can lead to more serious conditions. Traditionally, BPH treatment controls symptoms using a variety of medications.
Testing for BPH
For the new study from Seoul National University, researchers used the urodynamic testing procedure (the accepted BPH testing standard) on a group of 71 men diagnosed with BPH. The men were divided into four groups. The exact method involved cystometry testing, a process that requires filling the bladder with warm water using a catheter. Once filled, the bladder pressure is measured. The measurements gathered from this procedure can help aid doctors in predicting outcomes of BPH surgery as well as aiding in the development of effective treatment options.
Researchers performed the procedure twice. In one group, bladder testing was done both times while lying down, and in another while standing. In the remaining groups, testing was done while lying or standing the first time, and then in the opposite position the second.
The team discovered that when testing was conducted while the patient was lying down, the bladder was less sensitive and bladder capacity was greater. Also, there was a better connection between maximum bladder capacity and emptying, and there was a decrease in involuntary smooth muscle contractions when compared to standing results.
While the results provided important data, there were some problems inherent in its design, a situation the researchers recognize. Most importantly, those who were studied represented a limited sampling as the test group was restricted only to those with BPH and not with other conditions. Also, none of the BPH test participants were tested in the sitting position, creating a potential gap in the findings.
