Results
In our study, sixty patients were randomly divided into two groups.
There were thirty patients in each group. Three patients from Group-1
left the study, stating that they did not benefit from the treatment.
One of the patients could not complete the treatment due to a COVID-19
infection. Seven patients in Group-2 left the study because they did not
benefit from the treatment, while one patient could not complete the
treatment due to the COVID-19 infection. The data of 26 patients in
Group-1 and 22 patients in Group-2 were analyzed. The mean age of group
1 was 51.04±14.25 years, and the mean age of group 2 was 51.64±13.52
years (p>0.05). There was no difference between the groups
in terms of BMI. The pre-treatment OAB-V8, ICIQ-SF scores, and urinary
frequency, nocturia numbers of the groups were evaluated and presented
in Table-2. The groups were similar in terms of pre-treatment OAB-V8,
ICIQ-SF scores, and urinary frequency and nocturia counts
(p>0.05) (Table-2).
When we examine the change in OAB-V8 scores in Group-1 and Group-2;
There was a statistically significant decrease in OAB-V8 scores
following the treatment (p<0.001). Although a greater decrease
was observed in OAB-V8 scores in patients who underwent TTNS three times
a week, no statistically significant difference was found (p=0.094).
When the weekly change in OAB-V8 score after pretreatment and treatment
in Group-1 was examined, it was found that the statistically significant
response difference started at the 5th week of the treatment (p=0.005)
and that in Group-2, it occurred in the third week of the treatment
(p=0.017). Weekly OAB-V8 score changes of the groups before and after
treatment are shown in Figure-3.
It was found that ICIQ-SF scores in Group-1 and Group-2 decreased
statistically significantly after the treatment (p<0.001).
Although there was a greater decrease in ICIQ-SF scores in Group-2, no
significant difference was found between the groups in terms of ICIQ-SF
score change (p=0.118). When the ICIQ-SF score change after pretreatment
and treatment was examined in Group-1, it was found that the
statistically significant response difference started at the sixth week
of the treatment (p<0.001), and that in Group-2, it occurred
in the fifth week of the treatment (p<0.001). Weekly ICIQ-SF
score changes of the groups before and after the treatment were shown in
Figure-4.
It was found that the frequency of urination decreased statistically
significantly in group-1 and group-2 after treatment
(p<0.001). Although there was a greater decrease in the
frequency of urination in Group-2, no significant difference was found
between the groups in terms of the change in urination frequency
(p=0.118). When the change in urination frequency after pretreatment and
treatment is examined; It was found that a statistically significant
difference in response in both groups started in the fourth week of the
treatment (Group-1 p=0.018, Group-2 p=0.003). Weekly voiding frequency
changes of the groups before and after treatment are shown in Figure-5.
The results established from the evaluation of treatment protocols in
terms of unresponsiveness, partial response, and complete response after
the 12-week TTNS procedure were given in Table-3. After the 12-week TTNS
procedure, no statistically significant difference was observed between
the groups in terms of treatment response (p = 0.203).