Prevalence of urinary system, pelvic organ, and genital tract disorders among women with type 1 diabetes in Germany.

AIM

Type 1 diabetes can lead to various long-term complications including macro- and microvascular disorders and osteoporosis. However, published data on the association between type 1 diabetes (T1D) and urinary system and genital tract disorders is limited. The aim of this work was to estimate the prevalence and incidence of urinary system- and genital tract disorders among women with T1D treated in gynecological practices in Germany.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included women aged 16 years or older with T1D diagnosis between January 2015 and December 2018 from 268 gynecological practices in Germany (IMS Disease Analyzer database). T1D patients were matched 1:5 by age and physician with non-diabetic patients. The main outcome of the study was the prevalence of different urinary system, pelvic organ and genital tract disorders documented between the first documentation of T1D diagnosis and the last outpatient visit. All study disorders were included as dependent variables in multivariate logistic regression models, while T1D was applied as an impact variable. In each model, the effect of T1D on the defined disorder was adjusted for all other study disorders.

RESULTS

The present study included 1357 women with and 6785 women without T1D (mean age 45.6 years). T1D was significantly associated with acute vulvitis (OR: 2.12 (95% CI: 1.56-2.90), other specified urinary incontinence (OR: 1.64 (95% CI: 1.19-2.26), acute cystitis (OR: 1.46 (95% CI: 1.10-1.95), and absent, scanty and rare menstruation (OR: 1.37 (95% CI: 1.13-1.67).

CONCLUSION

These findings may have implications for the future care of women with T1D. Firstly, the focus should not be on diabetes management alone, but also on identifying and handling additional associated comorbidities including urinary system and genital tract disorders. Secondly, the data suggest that patients with T1D should be asked specifically about symptoms they may be experiencing that are related to the associated disorders identified.