ArticleWorld journal of urology2024
Declining utilization of urodynamic studies in urological care in Germany: time to say goodbye?
Article in World journal of urology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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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.
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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.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Rethinking Catheters to Reduce Costs in Urodynamic Evaluation: Do All Roads Lead to Rome?Neurourology and urodynamics · 2026Trial
- [Urodynamics in Germany: Indications and Application in Urological Hospital and Practice Settings].Urologie (Heidelberg, Germany) · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionThe number of urodynamic studies (UDS) has been declining steadily in recent decades, yet the reasons behind this trend remain poorly understood. This study aims to investigate the structural aspects of UDS in urology and explore the factors contributing to this decline. MATERIAL &
methodsWe surveyed all urological departments performing UDS as well as a representative sample of private practices in Germany in 2023. We examined structural situation, waiting times, capacities and limitations of UDS. All invasive urodynamic examinations were defined as UDS.
resultsIn 2019, 259/474 (55%) urological departments in Germany performed UDS. 206/259 (80%) urological departments responded to the survey. 163/200 (82%) urological departments stated that their capacities were exhausted, a main reason being lack of medical and nursing staff. 54.8% urological departments performed more than 50% of their UDS for referring physicians. Urological departments with a low number of UDS/year (≤ 100) showed a shorter waiting time (up to 4 weeks: 49% vs. 30%; p = 0.01), reduced UDS capacities (55% vs. 12%; p < 0.001) and these capacities were often not fully utilized (25% vs. 9%; p = 0.007). 122/280 (44%) office urologists responded to the survey. 18/122 (15%) office urologists performed UDS. Main reasons for not offering UDS were lack of personnel and low reimbursement.
conclusionIn German urological departments, UDS capacities are consistently fully utilized, primarily due to staffing shortages. This trend towards centralization prompts questions about the role of UDS in urologists' training.
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