2. METHODS
2.1. Introduction
For the 2023 Non-neurogenic Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms guidelines, databases searched included Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Libraries, covering a time frame between 01 September 2021 and
20 February 2022, with a focus on high-level evidence only (systematic reviews (SR) and meta-analyses). A total of 345 unique records were identified, retrieved, and screened for relevance. Detailed search strategies are available: https://uroweb.org/guideline/non-neurogenic-female-luts/?type=appendices-publications.
For the 2023 edition of the guidelines a de novo systematic review was undertaken by the Panel on the subject of OAB syndrome [11]. The results from this publication have informed the corresponding sections of this guidelines update.
For each recommendation within the guidelines there is an accompanying online strength rating form which includes the assessment of the benefit to harms ratio and patients ‘preferences for each recommendation. The strength rating forms draws on the guiding principles of the GRADE methodology but do not purport to be GRADE [12,13]. Each strength rating form addresses a number of key elements, namely:
- overall quality of the evidence which exists for the recommendation; references used in this text are graded according to a classification system modified from the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine Levels of Evidence [14];
- magnitude of the effect (individual or combined effects);
- certainty of the results (precision, consistency, heterogeneity and other statistical or study-related factors);
- balance between desirable and undesirable outcomes;
- impact of patient values and preferences on the intervention;
- certainty of those patient values and preferences.
These key elements are the bases that panels use to define the strength rating of each recommendation. The strength of each recommendation is represented by the words strong or weak [15]. The strength rating forms are available online.
Additional information can be found in the general Methodology section of this print, and online at the EAU website: https://uroweb.org/guidelines/policies-and-methodological-documents/.
A list of Associations endorsing the EAU Guidelines can also be viewed online at the above address.
2.2. Review
The guidelines were extensively peer reviewed prior to publication in 2021.
2.3. Future goals
- Systematic review of underactive bladder (UAB) in women.