Extension of LURN: Research Network in Symptomatic Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction

May 2022 Council

Lead Division/Office

KUH

Point(s) of Contact

Ziya Kirkali, M.D.

Executive Summary

The NIDDK’s Symptoms of Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction Research Network (LURN) seeks to improve our understanding of urinary urgency and associated symptoms so that it can be better diagnosed and more effectively treated in the adult population. The current LURN Urinary Urgency Phenotyping Protocol is designed to a) identify clinically relevant subtypes of patients with urinary urgency; b) understand the roles of diet; psychosocial factors; central sensitization; physical activity; sleep; and pelvic floor, sexual, bowel, and urethral/bladder function in urinary urgency; c) refine self-reported measurement of urinary urgency using the LURN Symptom Index (SI)-10, SI-29, and other items from the LURN Comprehensive Assessment of Self-Reported Urinary Symptoms (CASUS); d) explore patient factors that have an impact on treatment adherence and efficacy; and e) generate knowledge to inform the development of individualized treatments for patients with urinary urgency. A 3-year extension of the LURN is proposed to fully meet the enrollment targets and participant follow-up for the LURN clinical protocol and to allow for resources for data analysis and dissemination of study findings. Successful completion of the LURN Urinary Urgency Phenotyping Study will provide key insights that are expected to directly inform improved clinical management strategies for these common urologic symptoms.