Quality of life in women with urinary incontinence is impaired and comparable to women with chronic diseases.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the quality of life in women with urinary incontinence (categorised by urodynamic findings).


METHODS
Prospective cohort study on patients.


METHODS
Urogynaecology unit of a university teaching hospital in Hong Kong. PATIENTS. Female patients presenting to our clinic from July 2008 to December 2009 and having their urinary incontinence categorised by urodynamic study.


METHODS
Patient's quality of life was assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form, Urogenital Distress Inventory Short Form, and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire Short Form. Their quality of life was compared according to their urodynamic category and a subgroup analysis was performed on patients having continence surgery for urodynamic stress incontinence.


RESULTS
Among the 223 women studied, 46% had urodynamic stress incontinence, 18% had detrusor overactivity, 2% had both urodynamic stress incontinence and detrusor overactivity, and 34% had no urodynamic abnormality. In all, the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form scoring was lower than normal local population. The Medical Outcomes Study Short Form score in detrusor overactivity group was significantly lower than urodynamic stress incontinence group in vitality and mental health domains. Detrusor overactivity group also had higher scores in Incontinence Impact Questionnaire Short Form in travel, social and emotional health subscales and total score (46.3 vs 29.1; P<0.01). Women with urodynamic stress incontinence and required continence surgery had higher scores in Incontinence Impact Questionnaire Short Form.


CONCLUSIONS
Women with urinary incontinence had impaired quality of life and it was comparable to other chronic medical diseases. Women with detrusor overactivity have more impaired quality of life than women with urodynamic stress incontinence. Severity of urodynamic stress incontinence did not correlate with quality of life. Women who opted for continence surgery had poorer quality of life.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong. rachelcheung@cuhk.edu.hk
Rachel Y K
RY
Cheung
Symphorosa  S C
S
Chan
Alice K W
AK
Yiu
Loreta L L
LL
Lee
Tony K H
TK
Chung
D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000523:psychology*; D014563:Urodynamics