Urinary incontinence: "95.5% of the women reported a negative impact on the quality of life"

Pak J Med Sci. 2013 May;29(3):818-22.

Urinary incontinence in women: prevalence rates, risk factors and impact on quality of life.

Sensoy N¹, Dogan N², Ozek B³, Karaaslan L⁴.

Author information

• ¹Nazli Sensoy, Department of Family Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey.
• ²Nurhan Dogan, Department of Biostatistics, Afyon Kocatepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey.
• ³Burcu Ozek, 6th Grade Medical Student, Afyon Kocatepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey.
• ⁴Leyla Karaaslan, 6th Grade Medical Student, Afyon Kocatepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey.

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the prevalence, risk factors of urinary incontinence (UI) and to assess its impact on the quality of women's life. 

Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed 1050 female participants aged between 20-80 years. A questionnaire form, including the socio-demographic characteristics and risk factors and the "International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form" were used for the data collection. 

Results: The mean age of women was 48.80±11.53 years. The prevalence of UI was 44.6%. The distribution of the types of UI was 31% stress incontinence, 47.4% urge, and 33.1% mixed type. Although 95.5% of the women reported a negative impact on the quality of life, admission to a health center was only 63.9%, and 64.7% of the women had not received any medical help. The statistical analysis revealed that menopause, constipation, hypertension, diabetes, family history and parity are associated with UI as risk factors. 

Conclusion: We suggest that in the early diagnosis and treatment of urinary incontinence (UI), mental, educational and psychosocial support should be given to patients together with medical therapy.