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. 2020 Apr;39(4):1185-1202.
doi: 10.1002/nau.24325. Epub 2020 Mar 2.

Applying concepts of life course theory and life course epidemiology to the study of bladder health and lower urinary tract symptoms among girls and women

Sonya S Brady  1 , Amanda Berry  2 , Deepa R Camenga  3 , Colleen M Fitzgerald  4 , Sheila Gahagan  5 , Cecilia T Hardacker  6 , Bernard L Harlow  7 , Jeni Hebert-Beirne  8 , D Yvette LaCoursiere  9 , Jessica B Lewis  10 , Lisa K Low  11 , Jerry L Lowder  12 , Alayne D Markland  13   14 , Gerald McGwin  15 , Diane K Newman  16 , Mary H Palmer  17 , David A Shoham  18 , Ariana L Smith  16 , Ann Stapleton  19 , Beverly R Williams  13 , Siobhan Sutcliffe  20 ; Prevention of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (PLUS)
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Applying concepts of life course theory and life course epidemiology to the study of bladder health and lower urinary tract symptoms among girls and women

Sonya S Brady et al. Neurourol Urodyn. 2020 Apr.

Abstract

Aims: Although lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) may occur at different periods during the life course of women, a little research on LUTS has adopted a life course perspective. The purpose of this conceptual paper is to demonstrate how life course theory and life course epidemiology can be applied to study bladder health and LUTS trajectories. We highlight conceptual work from the Prevention of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Research Consortium to enhance the understanding of life course concepts.

Methods: Consortium members worked in transdisciplinary teams to generate examples of how life course concepts may be applied to research on bladder health and LUTS in eight prioritized areas: (a) biopsychosocial ecology of stress and brain health; (b) toileting environment, access, habits, and techniques; (c) pregnancy and childbirth; (d) physical health and medical conditions; (e) musculoskeletal health; (f) lifestyle behaviors; (g) infections and microbiome; and (h) hormonal status across the life span.

Results: Life course concepts guided consortium members' conceptualization of how potential risk and protective factors may influence women's health. For example, intrapartum interventions across multiple pregnancies may influence trajectories of bladder health and LUTS, illustrating the principle of life span development. Consortium members also identified and summarized methodologic and practical considerations in designing life course research.

Conclusions: This paper may assist researchers from a variety of disciplines to design and implement research identifying key risk and protective factors for LUTS and bladder health across the life course of women. Results from life course research may inform health promotion programs, policies, and practices.

Keywords: bladder health; epidemiology; girls; life course; lower urinary tract symptoms; prevention; theory; transdisciplinary; women.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Statement

There are no reported financial conflicts directly related to this work. The Prevention of Lower Urinary Symptoms (PLUS) Research Consortium is supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) through cooperative agreements (U01DK106786, U01DK106853, U01DK106858, U01DK106898, U01DK106893, U01DK106827, U01DK106908, U01DK106892).

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Generating and Refining Life Course Research Questions: Three Key Considerations.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Illustration of Key Life Course Study Designs for Infections & Microbiome Examples in Table 3.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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