Health-related quality of life issues in urinary urge incontinence.
Urinary incontinence is a highly prevalent condition which affects the physical, social, psychological and economic well-being of individuals and their families. The assessment of health-related quality of life has been increasingly applied to urinary incontinence. Of the three major types of urinary incontinence (stress, urge or mixed), urge and mixed urinary incontinence have been proven to have the worst effect on health-related quality of life. This paper reviews the health-related quality of life questionnaires designed specifically for urge urinary incontinence patients, describing their main characteristics and limitations. Four additional health-related quality of life questionnaires for urinary incontinence patients are also described, either because of their widespread use or because of their proven utility in the evaluation of urge urinary incontinence.
Badía
Xavier
X
Health Outcomes Research Europe, Barcelona, Spain. xbadia@hor-europe.com
Ibarz
Raquel
R