Correlates of 1-Year Change in Quality of Life in Patients with Urologic Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome: Findings from the Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of Chronic Pelvic Pain (MAPP) Research Network.

PURPOSE: To evaluate and identify baseline factors associated with change in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among patients with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). METHODS: A total of 191 men and 233 women with IC/BPS or CP/CPPS (collectively referred to as urologic chronic pelvic pain syndrome, or UCPPS) were followed for 12 months with bimonthly completion of the Short Form 12 (SF-12) to assess general mental and physical HRQOL, and with biweekly assessment of condition-specific HRQOL using the Genitourinary Pain Index. A functional clustering algorithm was used to classify participants as improved, stable, or worsened for each HRQOL measure. Ordinal logistic regression was used to determine baseline factors associated with change. RESULTS: Physical HRQOL improved in 22% of the participants, mental HRQOL improved in 25%, and condition-specific HRQOL improved in 47%. Better baseline physical HRQOL, older age, and the presence of non-urologic symptoms were associated with lower likelihood of improvement in physical HRQOL. Better baseline mental HRQOL, female sex, and greater baseline depression and stress were associated with lower likelihood of improvement in mental HRQOL. Better baseline condition-specific HRQOL and more severe baseline UCPPS pain symptoms were associated with lower likelihood of improvement in condition-specific HRQOL. CONCLUSION: While several non-UCPPS factors influenced the trajectory of general HRQOL over time, only condition-specific baseline HRQOL and UCPPS symptoms were associated with UCPPS-specific HRQOL change. Significant differences in how UCPPS impacts various aspects of HRQOL suggest a multidisciplinary approach to assessment and treatment of these patients.