By using questionnaire data obtained from IC patients

in three hospitals in Taiwan, we collected the demographic information, patient and family medical history, dietary effects on symptoms, previous history, pregnancy, sexual-related pain and impact of symptoms of quality of life (QOL). Herein, we report our initial descriptive data of interstitial cystitis patients recruited at three different hospitals in Taiwan. This is a hospital and urologist based study. The patients in the VEGFR inhibitor study diagnosed with interstitial cystitis were based on NIDDK criteria. The patients were enrolled to the study from three hospitals located in northern, middle and southeastern parts of Taiwan. The patients were recruited from February 2004 through March 2006. There are three researchers in the present study, including Ming-Huei Lee, Alex Tong-Long Lin

and Hann-Chorng Kuo. They were all responsible for the enrollment of patients. Sirolimus mouse The data were analyzed and documented by Ming-Huei Lee. The patients in the study were diagnosed based on the cystoscopic findings deemed as the major criteria. The clinical symptoms were evaluated and presented. The criteria were mostly adherent to the NIDDK criteria, except that the patient age was not limited to 18 years or older and the symptom duration was not necessarily longer than 9 months. The questionnaires included demographic, patient medical history, family medical history, dietary effects, past history, pregnancy history, and sexual relationship. They were designed according to the statements offered from patients with interstitial cystitis and were modified from previous studies by Koziol et al.[10] and O’Leary preliminary IC symptom index.[11] Researchers in the study considered that different characteristics of patients with interstitial cystitis (e.g. pain perceived as throbbing) might reflect different subgroups of interstitial cystitis. Therefore, we developed the questionnaires mentioned above on the basis of these characteristics. DOK2 The questionnaire was

designed for self-administration to avoid the bias of interviewers and/or the judgment of physician or nurses. Quality of life (QOL) was assessed using questions from a validated QOL questionnaire. The questionnaire was directed at psychosocial aspects of interstitial cystitis, which can predict whether the lack of physical wellbeing will adversely affect personal functioning, that is, the performance or capacity to perform the kinds of tasks that most healthy people do in daily life (such as physical activities and mobility) and role functioning (such as employment). A total of 319 patients with a mean age of 46 years were enrolled in the study. The age at symptom onset was 38 years. The interval between the onset of symptoms and the diagnosis was 8 years. The female to male ratio was 86–14%.