Value of the cough pressure profile in the evaluation of patients with stress incontinence.

The cough urethral pressure profile has been used to identify patients with genuine stress urinary incontinence. One hundred forty-four patients were studied to determine the value of this test in the evaluation of patients presenting with lower urinary tract symptoms. In the sitting position with a full bladder the test has a high specificity (92%) but relatively low sensitivity (41%). The clinical ramifications of using the test "cough pressure profile" and the definition "genuine stress urinary incontinence" are discussed.