Abstract / Summary
ObjectiveBladder sensation plays a pivotal role in the physiological regulation of urine storage and micturition and is essential for maintaining normal lower urinary tract function. This systematic review aimed to comprehensively summarize current methods for assessing and detecting bladder sensation, compare their characteristics, and discuss their potential clinical applications.MethodsThis systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and was prospectively registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024625435). Eight electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang Database, VIP Database, and SinoMed) were searched from database inception to October 2024. Eligible studies investigating methods for the assessment or detection of bladder sensation were identified through predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data regarding study characteristics, assessment methods, and principal findings were extracted and qualitatively synthesized.ResultsA total of 83 studies were included in this review. The published studies spanned from 1984 to 2023 and investigated a broad range of bladder sensation assessment methods. These included equipment-based techniques, such as urodynamic testing, sympathetic skin reaction, positron emission tomography, functional magnetic resonance imaging, bladder manometry, and bladder ultrasonography, as well as non-equipment-based approaches including bladder diaries, visual analogue scales, Patient Perception of Bladder Condition, frequency-volume charts, and forced diuresis tests. Each method demonstrated distinct strengths, limitations, and potential clinical applications.ConclusionsCurrent methods for assessing bladder sensation vary considerably in their underlying principles, invasiveness, clinical feasibility, and diagnostic utility. Understanding the characteristics, advantages, and limitations of different assessment approaches may facilitate more comprehensive evaluation of bladder sensory function and support individualized clinical decision-making. Further studies are warranted to establish standardized, objective, and clinically applicable methods for bladder sensation assessment.