title: Urinary incontinence in women is not exclusively a medical problem: a population-based study on urinary incontinence and general living conditions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to analyse differences in general health and general living conditions between women with and without urinary incontinence (UI).
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional population-based study was conducted in Orebro County, Sweden. A public health questionnaire, "Life and Health", was sent to a randomly selected sample of the population. The questionnaire consisted of 87 questions on broad aspects of general and psychiatric health. An additional questionnaire was enclosed for those respondents who reported experiencing UI. The data were analysed using binary logistic regression. The final study population constituted 4609 women, 1332 of whom had completed both questionnaires. The remaining 3277 had completed only the Life and Health questionnaire. Effect measures were odds ratios (ORs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically significant associations were found between UI and the occurrence of musculoskeletal pain (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.20-1.76), fatigue and sleeping disorders (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.30-1.95), feelings of humiliation (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.12-1.50), financial problems (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.11-1.66), and reluctance to seek medical care (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.21-1.68).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  UI among women is commonly associated with a number of different psychosocial problems as well as an expressed feeling of vulnerability.
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Medical Sciences, Orebro University, Orebro, Sweden. karin.franzen@orebroll.se
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Franzén
authors.forename: Jan-Erik
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.forename: Gunnel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.forename: Nicklas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pettersson
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nilsson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005221:Fatigue / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult