Factors predicting the response to biofeedback‐assisted pelvic floor muscle training for urinary incontinence

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of biofeedback-assisted pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) for urinary incontinence and to determine the patient characteristics predictive of success. METHODS: Clinical and physiologic data of 86 patients with urinary incontinence who had received biofeedback-assisted PFMT were analyzed retrospectively. The clinical response was determined to be a success (requiring no more therapy) or a failure (requiring surgery or other medical therapy) at 3 months after completion of treatment. RESULTS: The success group included 57% of the enrolled patients. In the univariate analysis, the following factors had P values of less than 0.20: alcohol consumption, detrusor overactivity, type of urinary incontinence, and the change in the average amplitude of tonic contraction before treatment and after the 8th session of biofeedback-assisted PFMT. In the multiple logistic regression analysis, the only independent predictive factor of a successful response was a significant change in the average tonic contraction before treatment and after the 8th session (odds ratio, 1.661; 95% confidence interval, 1.015- 2.721). CONCLUSION: After biofeedback-assisted PFMT, 57% of patients with urinary incontinence required no further therapy. Increased pelvic floor muscle activity after the 8th session of PFMT predicted a successful response to treatment.