PREVALENCE OF INTERSTITIAL CYSTITIS SYMPTOMS IN WOMEN: A POPULATION BASED STUDY IN THE PRIMARY CARE OFFICE

Abstract

Based on previously published criteria for use of the OLS survey the prevalence of urinary symptoms corresponding to probable IC in our study population (575/100,000 or 0.57%, 95% CI 150 to 1,000) was similar to the 0.45% rate previously reported. However, the results of the PUF questionnaire indicated that the prevalence of IC in women may actually be much higher (12,600/100,000 or 12.6%, 95% CI 10,700 to 14,500). We suggest that the true prevalence of IC in women may be somewhere between these 2 extremes. Further investigation of these questionnaires as screening tools for IC is warranted. IC may be more common in women than previously reported.