Urinary incontinence and overactive bladder in patients with heart failure.
OBJECTIVE
We explored the nature of the relationship between heart failure and urinary symptoms, specifically urinary incontinence and overactive bladder.


METHODS
An 81-item written survey about urinary incontinence, urgency, frequency, nocturia and other symptoms was administered to hospitalized and clinic patients with heart failure. A medical records review was also conducted to determine types of medications, body mass index and documentation of the New York Heart Association Classification of heart failure.


RESULTS
Of 408 respondents 296 (average age 62.2 years) had information about heart failure stage and urinary symptoms. Of these respondents 45% and 57% reported urinary incontinence and overactive bladder, respectively. Adjusted odds ratio for having overactive bladder over no symptoms for respondents with New York Heart Association Class III or Class IV heart failure was 2.9 (95% CI 1.344-6.250) and for higher fatigue-depression composite was 2.155 (95% CI 1.206-3.860). Adjusted odds ratio for having overactive bladder over frequency/nocturia for respondents with higher body mass index was 1.458 (95% CI 1.087-1.953) and for higher fatigue-depression composite was 1.629 (95% CI 1.038-2.550).


CONCLUSIONS
Urinary incontinence and overactive bladder are prevalent in patients with heart failure. Evidence of late stage heart failure, higher fatigue-depression composite and higher body mass index were associated with overactive bladder. Sex, age and diuretic use were not associated with urinary incontinence and overactive bladder.
Palmer
Mary H
MH
School of Nursing, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27704, USA. mhpalmer@email.unc.edu
Hardin
Sonya R
SR
Behrend
Carolyn
C
Collins
Susan K-R
SK
Madigan
Catherine K
CK
Carlson
John R
JR
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015897:Comorbidity; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006334:Heart Function Tests; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015996:Survival Rate; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D053201:Urinary Bladder, Overactive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014563:Urodynamics