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).