Quality of life and psychological aspects in children with overactive bladder treated with parasacral transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation - A prospective multicenter study

To assess the impact of parasacral transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (parasacral TENS) on quality of life (QoL) and psychological aspects in children treated for overactive bladder (OAB). This international, multicenter, prospective cohort study involved individuals of 6–16 years of age under TENS treatment for OAB. The study was conducted between June 2016 and December 2019 in four participating centers: two in Australia, one in Germany and one in Brazil. Patients with anatomical and/or neurological abnormalities of the urinary tract were excluded. Questionnaires were applied before and after parasacral TENS treatment: the Dysfunctional Voiding Symptom Score (DVSS), used in Brazil, or the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire - Pediatric Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (ICIQ-CLUTS), used in Germany and Australia, to analyze urinary symptoms; the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) to assess emotional and behavioral aspects; and the Pediatric Incontinence Questionnaire (PinQ) for bladder-specific Qol. Fifty-three patients (28 girls and 25 boys) with a mean age of 8.64 ± 2.63 years were included. Median DVSS was 11 (range 6–13.5) and 3 (range 0–7), (p