Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30564664›Full record

ArticleBJGP open2017

Is uncertain vulvovaginal candidiasis a marker of vulvodynia? A study in a Dutch general practice research database.

Peter Leusink, Daphne van Moorsel, Hans Bor, Gé A Donker, Peter Lucassen, Doreth Teunissen, Ellen Laan, Antoine Lagro-Janssen

Open access · goldAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BJGP open, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
0.9field-weighted citation impact, top 26% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 9 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.

Peter LeusinkGP, Department of Primary and Community Care, Unit Gender & Women's Health, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Daphne van MoorselSenior Medical Student, Department of Primary and Community Care, Unit Gender & Women's Health, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Hans BorResearcher, Department of Primary and Community Care, Unit Gender & Women's Health, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Gé A DonkerGP & Researcher, Primary Care Database, NIVEL, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Peter LucassenGP & Researcher, Department of Primary and Community Care, Unit Gender & Women's Health, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Doreth TeunissenGP & Researcher, Department of Primary and Community Care, Unit Gender & Women's Health, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Ellen LaanPsychologist & Professor of Sexology, Department of Sexology and Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Antoine Lagro-JanssenProfessor of Gender & Women's Health, Department of Primary and Community Care, Unit Gender & Women's Health, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Radboud University Medical Center · NLRadboud University Nijmegen · NLCommunity Care · USUniversity of Amsterdam · NL

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundA recent Dutch study in general practice showed a clear relationship between the diagnosis of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and symptoms suggestive of provoked vulvodynia (PVD). PVD accounts for the largest group of vulvar pains, but is often not recognised by GPs.

aimTo investigate whether diagnostic uncertainty about VVC in general practice could also point to the diagnosis of PVD, and whether and how this diagnostic uncertainty affects management. DESIGN &

settingAn observational study in 2014 in Dutch general practices of the NIVEL Primary Care Database.

methodWomen with an uncertain diagnosis of VVC were distinguished from those with certain VVC based on the occurrence of recurrent episodes and persisting complaints, despite treatment. Factors known to be associated with PVD were hypothesised to be more prevalent in women with uncertain VVC. Data on symptom management by GPs were collected.

resultsIn total 7066 women with VVC or uncertain VVC were included. Uncertain VVC was found to account for 28% of these patients. Compared to VVC, the group uncertain VVC included significantly more women with female genital symptoms, tiredness, irritable bowel syndrome (all

conclusionThis study's findings indicate that uncertain VVC could be a marker of PVD. GPs might reconsider their diagnostics and management when women present recurrent and persistent vulvovaginal complaints, especially if accompanied by dyspareunia, functional syndromes, micturition symptoms, and psychological conditions.

Indexed as

clinical decision-makingdifferential diagnosisgeneral practiceuncertainityvulvodyniavulvovaginal candidiasis

Identifiers

PMID30564664
PMCPMC6169963
OpenAlexW2618666404

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.