The 1-hour pad test is a valuable tool in the initial evaluation of women with urinary incontinence

Aim: The urinary pad weight test is an objective measure of severity of urine loss. The purpose of this study was an attempt to determine the correlation among the 1-hour pad weight test, number of pads used per day, reported magnitude of incontinence, 24-hour pad weight, urodynamic parameters, and quality-of-life questionnaires. Methods: Women with urinary incontinence presenting between July 2002 and January 2004 were asked to participate. A complete history, physical examination, 24-hour urinary pad test, 72-hour voiding diary, urodynamics, 1-hour pad test, and incontinence questionnaires were completed. The 1-hour pad test was performed with a standard bladder volume, and all completed a walking route as outlined in the 1988 International Continence Society 1-hour pad test protocol. Results: Fifty women, average age 57.2 years (range, 26-78 years) completed the study. Ten (20%) complained of urge, 23 (46%) stress, and 17 (34%) mixed incontinence. Within each group, the 1-hour pad test weight correlated positively with the 24-hour pad test (Pearson coefficient 0.763). Questionnaires indicated the 1-hour test unmasked a significant stress component of leakage in 17 (34%) of the women not otherwise detected. The pad weights did not correlate with the any of the other parameters with which it was compared. Conclusions: The 1-hour pad weight test is an important objective tool in the evaluation of the incontinent female and complements other modalities of evaluation of incontinence, in particular, the bladder diary. It has good use in unmasking stress incontinence but underestimates those with urge incontinence. Copyright © 2005 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Duke Scholars

Author Andrew Charles Peterson Urology

Author Cindy Louise Amundsen Obstetrics and Gynecology, Urogynecology

Author George David Webster Urology