Ariana L. Smith, MD, presents “Prevention of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (PLUS) Research Consortium.”
How to cite: Smith, Ariana L. “Prevention of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (PLUS) Research Consortium.” February 19, 2025. Accessed May 2025. https://grandroundsinurology.com/prevention-of-lower-urinary-tract-symptoms-plus-research-consortium/
Prevention of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (PLUS) Research Consortium – Summary
Ariana L. Smith, MD, Urogynecology and Urology, Unversity of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, highlights the achievements of the Prevention of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (PLUS) Research Consortium, now in its tenth year of NIDDK funding. In this 16-minute presentation, Dr. Smith focuses on the accomplishments of PLUS.
PLUS was established to promote women’s bladder health and create a foundation for evidence-based prevention of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). The consortium has published over 60 peer-reviewed articles, defined bladder health, and created a conceptual framework that integrates life course, social-ecological, and biological perspectives. It has also developed and validated novel tools to assess bladder health, including the comprehensive Bladder Health Scales and Bladder Function Indices.
A major milestone of PLUS is the launch of RISE for Health, a population-based cohort study initiated in 2022. The study includes over 3,400 diverse US women and aims to identify risk factors associated with LUTS and bladder health, utilizing new measurement tools and innovative sampling strategies. Data collection methods include surveys, in-person assessments, and biospecimen analysis.
Bladder health exists on a continuum and is not solely defined by symptom absence. The study’s findings underscore a previously underrecognized subclinical population that may benefit from preventive interventions. As data collection and analysis continue, the PLUS Consortium aims to further inform public health strategies to improve bladder health and reduce the LUTS burden in women and girls.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ariana L. Smith, MD, serves as the Director of Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery at University of Pennsylvania Health System, and as Chief of Division of Urology at Pennsylvania Hospital, while also serving as an Alan J. Wein Professor in Urology II. Dr. Smith completed her medical degree at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City, New York, and her residency in urology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, followed by her fellowship in both urology and urogynecology at University of California, Los Angeles, in Los Angeles, California.
Dr. Smith is Board Certified in Urology and Urology: Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, making her both a urologist and a urogynecologist with over 20 years experience. Dr Smith specializes in treating women with conditions such as pelvic prolapse and urinary leakage with state-of-the-art surgical procedures, by providing minimally invasive and mesh-free alternatives to allow women choice and peace of mind. Dr. Smith’s research focuses on promotion of bladder health with dedication to improving bladder-related quality of life. She has authored or co-authored nearly 150 peer-reviewed publications, and also releases regular youtube videos to help expand the reach of information.
Dr. Smith has been recognized among America's Top Doctors in 2017 and in Philadelphia magazine's annual Top Docs issues, 2018 - 2021. She’s also been distinguished among Exceptional Women In Medicine, 2019 - 2025.
