Abstract
BackgroundUrinary incontinence (UI) in women is a chronic disorder which has a negative impact on health-related quality of life. Only 45 % of the affected individuals report the problem with continence to their doctor. The aim of the study was to assess the duration of stress urinary incontinence (SUI), time from disease onset to the first medical consultation and in-depth diagnosis, as well as the need for using continence pads in various grades of SUI.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study in women who presented at the urogynecologic ambulatory center and reported urinary incontinence. A total of 420 subjects were interviewed and underwent urogynecologic and urodynamic examinations. A group of 147 patients with urodynamic SUI was enrolled in the study.ResultsAll women were graded according to the Stamey severity score: grade 1 – 56 (38.1 %), grade 2 – 68 (46.3 %), and grade 3 – 23 (15.6 %). Mean time elapsed between disease onset and presentation at the urogynecologic ambulatory center was 17.4 ± 11.8 years (grades 1, 2 and 3 for 11.6 ± 11.8, 14.9 ± 10.8, and 22.2 ± 12.1 years, respectively; p = 0.0002). Patients with SUI started perceiving their condition as a problem 4.7 ± 5.4 years before referral to urodynamics; 58.3 % of the SUI patients reported their problems with continence to a physician. Average time between the onset of UI symptoms and seeking medical help was 13.28 ± 12.3 years. Mean duration of using continence pads during the day was 4.2, 5.4 and 10.2 years in grades 1, 2 and 3, respectively (p = 0.0002). The number of patients using continence pads in and outside the home, as compared to outside only, was: grade 1 – 44.6 % vs. 28.6 %, grade 2 – 77.6 % vs. 13.4 %, and grade 3 – 86.4 % vs. 9.1 % (p = 0.004). Mean use of continence pads at night was 3.3, 6.1, and 9.1 years in grades 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The differences were not statistically significant. Protective continence products were used at night by 26.7 % of the SUI patients: 16.1 %, 25 % and 59.1 % in grades 1, 2 and 3, respectively (p = 0.004).ConclusionsWomen with SUI delay seeking medical help for over a decade. The severity of SUI is associated with duration and increased use of continence pads.
Highlights
Urinary incontinence (UI) in women is a chronic disorder which has a negative impact on healthrelated quality of life
There were no significant differences in the rate of women seeking medical advice in grades 1 and 2 stress urinary incontinence (SUI), but we observed a tendency to inform the doctor about continence problems much more frequently in grade 3 patients
Our data show that women with SUI delay consultation and proper treatment of their disability for over a decade
Summary
Urinary incontinence (UI) in women is a chronic disorder which has a negative impact on healthrelated quality of life. Urinary incontinence (UI) is a chronic condition affecting approximately 16.8 % of the Polish female population but, due to the embarrassing nature of the problem, the data are believed to be underestimated [1]. According to other epidemiological and clinical studies, 10-44 % of all women develop UI or other urogynecologic problems, which is associated with several risk factors or contributing variables [2,3,4]. These data suggest that UI should be perceived as a health problem which markedly influences the lives of the affected people. According to Hannenstad et al [8], only every fourth UI patient seeks help
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