The prevalence of urinary incontinence in community-dwelling married women: a matter of definition.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of female urinary incontinence (UI) and its impact on quality of life.


METHODS
In a Dutch national postal questionnaire survey, 1460 spouses of 1771 men in the town of Boxmeer, age-stratified and randomly selected, were asked to participate. The prevalence of UI in the women was assessed in two ways. First, a total score on a short UI-specific questionnaire differentiated them into three groups, i.e. no symptoms (score 0-2), minimally (3-6) or severely incontinent (7-14). Second, a self-reported UI prevalence was calculated by asking respondents if they ever had urine loss. To conform to the International Continence Society standard definition, spouses were also asked to complete a general (Short Form-12) and lower urinary tract disease-specific quality-of-life questionnaire, and were asked about their need to seek help.


RESULTS
The questionnaires were returned by 1071 women (mean age 57 years, range 29-79; response rate 73%); 34% were regarded as minimally and 12% as severely incontinent. The self-reported UI rate was 40%. Disease-specific and general quality of life was significantly lower for women with UI than for those with minimal or no urine loss; 38% of incontinent respondents had consulted a physician for their UI, and among respondents with minimal complaints this was 28%.


CONCLUSIONS
Up to 46% of the married female population had some degree of UI, and severe UI significantly compromised their quality of life.
Vandoninck
Vera
V
Department of Urology, University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Bemelmans
Bart L H
BL
Mazzetta
Chiara
C
Robertson
Chris
C
Keech
Martin
M
Boyle
Peter
P
Kiemeney
Lambertus A
LA
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008393:Marriage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000453:epidemiology*