Evaluation of the Correlation Between Cough Leak Point Pressure and Pressure Perineometry Findings in Female Patients Complaining of Stress Urinary Incontinence Publisher



Mahmoudnejad N ; Niknam H ; Borumandnia N ; Montazeri SMH ; Eslami A
Source: Continence Published:2026

Abstract

Background and objective Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) is a common issue in females, primarily caused by weak pelvic floor muscles or internal sphincter deficiency, diagnosed through clinical examination combined with methods for assessing pelvic muscle weakness. Pressure Perineometry (PP) is a noninvasive method used to evaluate muscle strength and function. This study aims to examine the correlation between Cough Leak Point Pressure (CLPP), measured during Urodynamic Studies (UDS) as a standard quantitative technique for evaluating urinary incontinence, and both pressure perineometry and digital vaginal palpation of the pelvic floor. Methods Sixty-two female patients (mean age: 56 ± 10 years, range: 38–72 years) presenting with SUI who had a positive CLPP in UDS and physical examination were included from 2022 to 2023. After taking their medical history and performing a primary examination, each patient underwent digital palpation and assessment using a pressure perineometer. The perineometer values and results of digital palpation, were analyzed for correlation with CLPP. Key findings and limitations CLPP was significantly correlated with PP, indicating that the severity of SUI is linked to a decrease in the average PP. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis identified a PP cut-off of 51.5 cmH2O for diagnosing SUI (sensitivity: 83 %, specificity: 90 %). Additional cut-offs of 35.5 and 43.5 cmH2O differentiated CLPP subgroups and SUI severity. PP showed no correlation with demographic or surgical factors. The single-center design and small sample size were among the limitations of this study. Conclusion and clinical implications PP is a simple, cost-effective, and non-invasive method that can complement UDS in diagnosing and grading SUI severity, patient follow-up, and outcome evaluation. Further studies are needed to validate these findings. © 2026 The Authors.