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. 2015 Jan;115(1):143-52.
doi: 10.1111/bju.12852. Epub 2014 Aug 16.

The impact of urinary incontinence on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a real-world population of women aged 45-60 years: results from a survey in France, Germany, the UK and the USA

Paul Abrams  1 , Andrew P Smith, Nikki Cotterill
Affiliations

The impact of urinary incontinence on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a real-world population of women aged 45-60 years: results from a survey in France, Germany, the UK and the USA

Paul Abrams et al. BJU Int. 2015 Jan.

Abstract

Objective: To develop a clear understanding of the relationship between severity of urinary incontinence (UI) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and mental well-being in a population of women of working age with the requisite demands of a busy, active life.

Subjects and methods: A survey of women with UI, aged between 45 and 60 years, was conducted via the internet in the UK, France, Germany and USA between 1 and 30 September 2013. Validated outcome measures were used to assess symptoms and the impact of UI on activities of daily life, HRQoL, and mental well-being: The International Consultation on Incontinence Modular Questionnaire Short Form; (ICIQ-UI Short Form); the ICIQ-Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Quality of Life; (ICIQ-LUTSqol); the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS). The relationships between UI, HRQoL and mental well-being were analysed using analyses of variance and regression.

Results: The survey was completed by 1203 women with UI with an average age of 52.7 years. Based upon responses to the ICIQ-UI Short Form about the amount of urine that leaks, respondents were categorised as having light (n = 1023, 87%), medium (n = 134, 11%), or severe UI (n = 20, 2%). The scores on the ICIQ-UI Short Form increased with severity [mean (sd) scores: light UI 7.9 (3.4), medium UI 13.8 (2.9), and severe UI 18.3 (3.9)], as did the impact on HRQoL, assessed using the ICIQ-LUTSqol [mean (sd) scores: light UI 30.6 (7.3), medium UI 41.0 (11.2), and severe UI 56.9 (17.6)]. Mental well-being decreased with severity of UI, the mean (se) WEMWBS scores were: light UI 48.3 (10.1), medium UI 44.5 (9.5), and severe UI 39.9 (16.2).

Conclusion: In women with UI, aged 45-60 years, UI symptoms directly affect HRQoL, which subsequently impacts negatively on mental well-being.

Keywords: female; mental well-being; quality of life; urinary incontinence.

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