Urinary Incontinence Amongst Women With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (UriCO)

Ostfold Hospital Trust

Status: Completed

Conditions: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; Urinary Incontinence

Treatments: Other: Control; Procedure: Pelvic floor muscle training; Procedure: Cough-suppression therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02614105

3342

Details and patient eligibility

About

The primary aim of the study is to investigate whether pelvic floor muscle training or cough-suppression therapy reduces symptoms of urinary incontinence amongst women with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease grade 1-4 (mild to very severe disease).

Full description

This two-centre study will consist of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) with a parallel group design and include two intervention groups and one control group. Recruitment and data collection will occur simultaneously at the ØHT and St. Olav's Hospital in Trondheim.

All participants will complete an initial four week general group exercise class (1 hour once a week) prior to randomisation. This intervention will focus on strength exercises (lower limb and upper limb), endurance training, balance training and thorax mobilising exercises. All participants will be examined and complete questionnaires at two occasions; after the initial four weeks general exercise/before intervention, and at 16 weeks post-randomisation.

Participants will be randomised to either Intervention group A (pelvic floor muscle training group), Intervention group B (cough-suppression group) or a control group who will receive brief written information about pelvic floor muscle training and cough-suppression, but no other form of regular follow-up or intervention throughout the intervention period.

Enrollment: 35 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• COPD grade 1-4
• Subjective urinary incontinence
• Ability to perform an active contraction of the pelvic floor muscles

Exclusion criteria

• Unstable COPD
• More than 4 hospital admissions due to COPD in the past twelve months
• Neurological conditions
• Previous gynecological surgery

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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35 participants in 3 patient groups

Pelvic floor muscle training

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in the pelvic floor muscle training group will receive group exercise sessions (1 hour) at the physiotherapy out-patient department of the hospital once a week for 16 weeks with guidance from an experienced pelvic floor physiotherapist. The group exercise sessions will focus on pelvic floor muscle training, relaxation and breathing techniques. Participants in the pelvic floor muscle training group will also receive an individually adapted pelvic floor muscle training program for daily home use.

Treatment:

Procedure: Pelvic floor muscle training

Cough-suppression

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in the cough-suppression group will receive a group education session with general information about cough-suppression therapy and advice about how to distinguish between unproductive and productive cough to enable them to perform airway clearance techniques when required. In addition, participants will receive one to two individual sessions (30-60 minutes) of cough-suppression therapy tailored to the individual needs based on symptoms and underlying disease activity

Treatment:

Procedure: Cough-suppression therapy

Control group

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in the group will receive guidance and instruction in terms of correct contraction of the pelvic floor muscles at clinical assessment. Control group participants will receive brief written information about pelvic floor muscle training and cough-suppression therapy, but no other form of regular follow-up or intervention throughout the intervention period.

Treatment:

Other: Control