THE SIGN OF STRESS INCONTINENCE - SHOULD WE BELIEVE WHAT WE SEE

The accuracy of the clinical sign of stress incontinence in the diagno sis of genuine stress incontinence (GSI) was evaluated in 863 (consecu tive) women, 779 of whom were referred with the symptom of urinary inc ontinence, Subjects were assessed clinically and urodynamically by the one clinician (PLD), The positive and negative predictive values of t he clinical sign of stress incontinence for a diagnosis of GSI were 91 % and 50% respectively, Of the 569 women with GSI, 335 (59%) had GSI a s their sole diagnosis and 234 (41%) had an additional urodynamic diag nosis, The clinical sign of stress incontinence when present was a rel iable guide to a final diagnosis of GSI, Clinical assessment of incont inent women requires the back-up of urodynamic studies in order to mak e an accurate diagnosis.