Quality of Life of Patients with Interstitial Cystitis and It's Treatment: Literature Review

Abstract

Background: Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is a chronic condition characterized by pelvic discomfort, frequent urination, and urine urgency. It negatively affects productivity, emotions, sleep, and mobility. Aim: To assess the impact of interstitial cystitis on patients' quality of life (QoL) and examine strategies for its improvement. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of studies published between 2014 and 2022, using PubMed and Google Scholar databases. We focused on medical therapies and their effects on QoL in interstitial cystitis patients. Inclusion criteria required full-text publications. Results: Among 100 identified articles, only eight met the inclusion criteria. Two were cross-sectional studies, and three were retrospective studies. The total number of patients included in the studies was 4814, all diagnosed with IC/BPS. Conclusion: Interstitial cystitis significantly impacts the quality of life, particularly in women. The most prevalent symptoms reported by IC/BPS patients are pain/discomfort, frequency and urgency of urination, and anxiety/depression. Treatment with Hyaluronic acid (HA) plus chondroitin sulfate (CS) appears to be comparable in effectiveness to Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), with a potentially better safety profile.