The role of the frequency-volume chart in the differential diagnostic of female urinary incontinence

Objective. To investigate the differential diagnostic capacity of the frequ ency-volume chart in 132 women with urinary incontinence. Material and method. For each patient, the readings of two 24-h frequency-v olume charts were compared to the urodynamic diagnosis which was used as th e gold standard in 73 genuine stress incontinent women, in 23 urge incontin ent women, and in 36 women with mixed incontinence. Results. The total voided volume. the mean voided volume, the largest singl e voided volume, and the smallest single voided volume were statistically d ifferentiating single parameters among the three groups (p<0.05). Applying logistic regression to the two well-defined groups of patients, the one wit h urge incontinence and the one with genuine stress incontinence, the frequ ency of micturition during nighttime revealed the best discriminatory power for these conditions. Conclusion. This study shows that in the frequency-volume chart micturition during nighttime discriminates best between urge and stress incontinence.