Risk factors for recurrent cystitis following acute cystitis in female patients

We conducted a retrospective analysis of acute cystitis (AC) patients to evaluate the risk factors of recurrent cystitis (RC) patients following AC. The clinical records of 254 subjects with a confirmed diagnosis of AC and 90 healthy subjects who visited the Health Promotion Center between 2008 and 2012 were reviewed. A patient was diagnosed with RC if she was treated for three or more symptomatic episodes of cystitis over a 12-month period. Results were analyzed according to three groups: normal control (group A, n = 90), AC (group B, n = 121), and RC (group C, n = 133). Women in the cystitis groups (groups B and C) were more likely to have diabetes, be menopausal, have a history of catheterization or sexually transmitted infections (STI), have a low daily water intake, have frequent sexual intercourse, and to use contraception more frequently than the normal control group (P < 0.05). In groups B and C, Escherichia coli was the most common uropathogen, followed by Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Enterococcus species, and Klebsiella species. There were no differences between groups in the detection rates of these uropathogens. Factors that affected progression to RC were diabetes, catheterization history, STI history, sexual intercourse more than four times per month, sexual intercourse in the last month, and the use of contraceptives (P < 0.05). The identification of these factors may help develop preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic strategies for treating RC that has progressed from AC.