Bladder diary
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A bladder diary, also referred to as a voiding diary,[1] frequency volume chart (FVC),[2] or micturition diary,[3] is a semi-objective log used to record a person’s urinary habits and fluid intake over a defined period, typically 2 to 3 days. Patients document details such as the timing and volume of urination, fluid consumption, episodes of urgency, and any urinary leakage or incontinence.[4][5] The purpose of a bladder diary is to help a healthcare professional to better understand a patient's bladder function and symptoms.[6]
The bladder diary provides valuable urodiagnostic information that helps healthcare providers evaluate lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), including urinary frequency, urgency, nocturia (nighttime urination), and incontinence. It is often recommended during initial assessments to differentiate between conditions like overactive bladder, polyuria, and urinary retention. Using a bladder diary can guide personalised treatment plans involving lifestyle advice, behavioural therapies (e.g., bladder training, pelvic floor exercises), and medications.
Bladder diaries are a rich source of relatively objective information on the voiding and fluid consumption habits of patients with LUTS. They are useful in identifying potential causes of LUTS, for guiding behaviour modifications, and for assessing treatment outcomes. However, the usefulness of bladder diaries depends largely on complete and accurate data entry. Diaries require significant patient effort to complete, which can result in missing or incomplete data.[7]
Incomplete or invalid bladder diary entries were frequently observed, indicating the challenges patients face when using this data collection approach. Using a questionnaire-based patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) serves as a practical substitute for diaries to record voiding frequency and could provide a simpler means of documenting certain symptoms.[8]