Poster 20: Bowel Symptoms in Women With Urge Urinary Incontinence Aged 40???60 Years

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine if there is an association between symptoms of urge urinary incontinence and abnormal bowel symptoms. METHODS: The study group consisted of 46 consecutive women in the age group 40–60 years reporting urge urinary incontinence on their initial evaluation. The control group consisted of 38 women without urinary incontinence reporting to the gynecology clinic for their annual examination. All women were administered 3 validated questionnaires to evaluate urinary symptoms, irritable bowel symptoms, and symptoms of constipation. Women taking anticholinergic medications and women with inflammatory bowel disease were excluded. RESULTS: The 2 groups were similar with respect to age (mean 51.7 ± 5.7 vs 50.6 ± 5.3 years), race, menopausal status (57% vs 50%), and parity (2.5 ± 1.35 vs 2.7 ± 1.9). Women in the study group were significantly more likely to report strong or overwhelming sensation to void (40%) compared with the control group (5%, P<0.001). Women in the study group were also more likely to report decreased length of time between daytime voids (median 1.3 hours) and decreased number of episodes of nocturia (median 1.5) when compared with the control group (median 1.7 hours and 0.5 episodes, respectively, P<0.001). The average score on the irritable bowel symptom questionnaire for women in the study group (2.1 ± 1.2) was similar to that of control women (1.7 ± 0.9, P=0.8). However, women in the study group scored significantly higher on the constipation questionnaire (0.73 ± 0.75) than control women (0.40 ± 0.49, P=0.02). Women with urge incontinence had higher scores than control women with respect to the following bowel symptoms: bowel movements that were hard, small, incomplete, and painful, as well as stomach cramps and straining with bowel movements. CONCLUSION: Symptoms of constipation are more common in women presenting with urge incontinence than control women in the 40- to 60-year age group.