From the Guidelines
The American Urological Association (AUA) guidelines are evidence-based recommendations that provide optimal clinical practices for various urological conditions, including stress urinary incontinence, as outlined in the 2017 AUA/SUFU guideline 1. The AUA guidelines are developed by a panel of experts who systematically evaluate new research, assess the quality of evidence, and develop consensus recommendations.
- The guidelines are regularly updated to reflect the latest evidence in urological care, with some high-priority topics receiving more frequent updates.
- The review process involves a thorough evaluation of new research and assessment of the quality of evidence to develop recommendations for optimal clinical practices.
- The AUA guidelines cover a wide range of conditions, including prostate cancer, urinary incontinence, kidney stones, erectile dysfunction, and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
- Healthcare providers should regularly check the AUA website for the most current guidelines, as treatment recommendations can change significantly based on new evidence, such as the 2017 guideline on surgical treatment of female stress urinary incontinence 1. The AUA guidelines aim to standardize care, improve patient outcomes, and reduce unnecessary procedures or treatments in urological practice, while also taking into account variations in resources, patient tolerances, needs, and preferences.
- The guidelines do not necessarily establish the standard of care, but rather provide provisional proposals for treatment under specific conditions, and do not preempt physician judgment in individual cases 1.
- The AUA urges strict compliance with all government regulations and protocols for prescription and use of substances, and encourages physicians to carefully follow all available prescribing information about indications, contraindications, precautions, and warnings.
From the Research
American Urological Association (AUA) Guidelines Review
The AUA guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of various urological conditions. Some of the key guidelines include:
- Interstitial cystitis (IC) treatment recommendations, which separate therapies into six tiers of increasing invasive therapies, starting with education and lifestyle modifications and progressing through physical, pharmacological, and surgical therapies 2
- Idiopathic overactive bladder (OAB) diagnosis and treatment guidelines, which provide an approach to selecting treatment options through shared decision-making and maximizing symptom control and quality of life 3
- Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) guidelines, which detail diagnosis and treatment options, including minimally modified diagnosis methods and updated treatment options for patients with modest to severe and bothersome lower urinary tract symptoms associated with BPH 4
- Urological trauma guidelines, which recommend conservative management for low-grade injuries and provide guidance on the evaluation and management of genitourinary injuries 5
- Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) treatment guidelines, which recommend intravesical Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and chemotherapy, as well as novel therapies such as pembrolizumab and adenovirus-based therapies 6
Key Recommendations
Some of the key recommendations from the AUA guidelines include:
- Tailoring treatment to each specific patient, taking into account their unique symptoms and severity of condition 2, 3
- Using a shared decision-making approach to select treatment options and maximize symptom control and quality of life 3
- Considering novel therapies, such as checkpoint inhibitors and adenovirus-based therapies, for the treatment of NMIBC 6
- Providing guidance on the evaluation and management of genitourinary injuries, including conservative management for low-grade injuries 5