Food Sensitivities in a Diverse Nationwide Cohort of Veterans With Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome
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Abstract
Purpose:
Prior studies suggest that certain foods exacerbate interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome symptoms. However, these studies were limited in size and demographics. We assessed the presence of diet sensitivities among patients with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome and compared them with patients with other pelvic pain conditions and healthy controls.
Materials and Methods:
We identified Veterans Affairs patients nationwide by querying ICD-9/10 codes for interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome. Patients were assigned to interstitial cystitis, other pelvic pain, or healthy control cohorts after chart review. We mailed all patients the Shorter-Moldwin Food Sensitivity Questionnaire to evaluate the self-perceived effects of specific foods/beverages on urinary symptoms and/or bladder pain.
Results:
In the interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome cohort, 70% had ≥1 food sensitivity vs 37% of the other pelvic pain cohort and 32% of healthy controls (P < .001). The average number of sensitivities were similar between other pelvic pain conditions and healthy control cohorts, which were significantly less than in interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome patients. Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome patients were more sensitive to acidic, spicy foods, and certain beverages vs other cohorts (all P < .001). Within the interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome cohort, Black patients had significantly higher sensitivity to alcoholic and noncaffeinated beverages than Whites. Black patients did report significantly worsened urinary urgency than Whites (P < .05).
Conclusions:
In a diverse population of veterans, interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome patients had significantly more food sensitivities than those without interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome. This suggests that food sensitivities could be suggestive of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome, which could make the Shorter-Moldwin Food Sensitivity Questionnaire a helpful diagnostic tool and aid in distinguishing interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome from conditions often confused with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome.
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Submitted April 15, 2022; accepted August 11, 2022; published August 24, 2022.
Support: This work was funded by a grant (5U01DP006079) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This publication was supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $5.5 million with 100 percent funded by CDC/HHS.
Conflict of Interest: Moldwin: Abbvie Pharmaceuticals, Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Spero Pharmaceuticals.
Ethics Statement: This study received institutional review board approval (IRB No. 1936).
CDC Disclaimer: The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
Editor's Note: This article is the fourth of 5 published in this issue for which Category 1 CME credits can be earned. Instructions for obtaining credits are given with the questions on pages 301 and 302.
