Characteristics of female outpatients with urinary incontinence participating in a 6-month observational study in 14 European countries.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the characteristics of women seeking treatment for symptoms of urinary incontinence (UI) in European countries.


METHODS
Prospective urinary incontinence research (PURE) was a 6-month, observational, pan-European study, primarily aimed at determining the direct costs of urinary incontinence treatment. The secondary objectives of PURE were to describe the impact of UI on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in treatment seeking patients and to illustrate the treatment patterns for UI in Europe.


METHODS
One thousand and Fifty-five physicians from 14 European countries, including general practitioners (GPs), gynaecologists, urologists and geriatricians, observed women seeking treatment for their UI and recorded data at the first observation and then prospectively at 3 and 6 months after the first observation during the normal course of therapy.


METHODS
Women of at least 18 years of age who had experienced urinary leakage in the 12 months prior to enrolment in the study, who were seeking treatment or under treatment for UI and who presented within the normal course of UI care were included in the 6 months study. The first observation characteristics of the patients are described here.


METHODS
Demographic characteristics, as well as disease and treatment status at first observation were explored using descriptive summary statistics to gain an understanding of the population studied.


RESULTS
In total, 9487 women took part in PURE, with the largest patient groups from Germany, Spain and the UK/Ireland. The majority of women were post-menopausal and had a mean age of 60.7 years, were not current smokers and tended to be overweight (BMI > 25.0). Overall, mixed UI symptoms were more common than SUI and UUI, as defined by clinical opinion (SUI 38%, MUI 42% and UUI 18%), and by a two-item questionnaire, the S/UIQ (SUI 29%, MUI 58% and UUI 13%). Around half of the patients (48%) suffered from their symptoms for less than 2 years before consulting a physician; 28% delayed seeking treatment for 3-5 years, with 13% waiting for 6-10 years and the remaining 11% waiting for 11 or more years.


CONCLUSIONS
Some of the described patients' characteristics may provide important information to clinicians to enable them to take a more active approach to case-finding, which will ultimately benefit the incontinent patient.
Sykes
David
D
Eli Lilly and Company Limited, European Health Outcomes Research, Surrey, UK.
Castro
Ramiro
R
Pons
Montserrat Espuna
ME
Hampel
Christian
C
Hunskaar
Steinar
S
Papanicolaou
Sotiria
S
Quail
Deborah
D
Samsioe
Goran
G
Voss
Simon
S
Wagg
Adrian
A
Monz
Brigitta U
BU
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D003710:Demography; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy