title: Urinary incontinence in Qatar: A study of the prevalence, risk factors and impact on quality of life.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the prevalence of and risk factors for urinary incontinence (UI) in Qatar, and its impact on quality of life (QoL).
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted in two phases, as phase 1 from 2010 to 2011 and phase 2 from 2011 to 2012. In phase 1 we calculated the prevalence of UI in Qatar and its risk factors. In phase 2 we determined the frequency and severity of different types of UI and its impact on QoL, by using the International Consultation Incontinence Questionnaire - Short Form (ICIQ-SF).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total of women included in phase 1 was 521, among whom 108 (20.7%) confirmed that they had experienced UI during the previous 4 weeks, whilst 413 (79.3%) denied any type of UI. Women with UI were older and less educated. Bronchial asthma was the only statistically significant factor affecting UI. In phase 2, 1085 patients with UI were enrolled, of whom 454 (41.9%) had urge UI (UUI), 484 (44.5%) had stress UI (SUI) and 148 (13.6%) had mixed UI (MUI). This phase also showed a distribution of the type of UI according to the age of the patients. UUI was predominant in women aged <40 years, SUI in those aged <70 years and MUI in those aged 40-70 years. Of these women, 86% had a small amount of urinary leakage (requiring 1-2 pads per day) but this had a significant effect on their QoL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In Qatar, 21% of women have UI, but bronchial asthma was a significant risk factor influencing the occurrence of UI. Social and religious factors have a significant effect on the QoL of incontinent women. A well-designed national health programme for both women in general and for those with UI, and for physicians and nurses in primary health centres, is highly recommended.
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, Hamad General Hospital, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Ardalan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghafouri
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, Hamad General Hospital, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Abdullah R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Alnaimi
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, Hamad General Hospital, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Hanaa M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Alhothi
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, Hamad General Hospital, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Iyad
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Alroubi
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, Hamad General Hospital, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Majed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alrayashi
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, Hamad General Hospital, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Nouha A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Molhim
authors.affiliation: Urology and Nephrology Center, Mansoura, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ahmed A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Shokeir
keywords: BMI, body mass index; CS, Caesarean section; ICIQ-SF, International Consultation Incontinence Questionnaire – Short Form; MUI, mixed UI; Prevalence; Qatar; QoL, quality of life; Quality of life; Risk factors; SUI, stress UI; UI, urinary incontinence; Urinary incontinence