[Ambulatory diagnosis of urinary incontinence among women: the role of a one-hour pad weigh test].

The aim of our studies was the evaluation of diagnostic usefulness of the 1-hour pad weight test in the different types of female incontinence. We examined 189 women at the age from 16 to 74 with the incontinence in anamnesis. The test was performed accordingly to the I.C.S. guidelines. The positive result of the test (more that 2 grams increase in the pad weigh) was found in 136 (71.6%) of examined women; including moderate urine leak in 24%, big in 55.1% and severe in 20.6% of them. The biggest average increase in pad weigh was found in urinary incontinence associated with the urgency, corresponding to 88.9 g in mixed incontinence and to 67.4 g in genuine urge incontinence. The sensitivity, specificity and efficacy of the test was 78.6%, 72% and 77% respectively. The shortened 1-hour pad weigh test is a simple and effective examination, especially in the stress incontinence. It is less effective in genuine urge incontinence and giggle incontinence. The negative effect of the 1-hour test, when the patients complaints coexist, should be the indication to repeat the test or to perform the 24-hour test. In the doubtful cases, before the surgery, the diagnostics should be extended to the full urodynamic examination.