Prevalence and impact of urinary incontinence in men with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a questionnaire survey

Abstract

ObjectivesTo identify urinary incontinence and its impact on men with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and men without lung disease. DesignProspective questionnaire study. SettingOutpatients attending a public metropolitan hospital. ParticipantsMen with COPD (n=49) and age-matched men without lung disease (n=36). InterventionsValidated questionnaires to identify the prevalence and impact of urinary incontinence. Main outcome measuresPrevalence of urinary incontinence and relationship with disease-specific factors, and relationship of urinary incontinence with anxiety and depression. ResultsThe prevalence of urinary incontinence was higher in men with COPD (n=19/49) compared with men without lung disease (n=6/36; P=0.027). In men with COPD, symptoms of urgency were more prevalent in men with urinary incontinence (P=0.005), but this was not evident in men without lung disease (P=0.101). Only men with COPD reported symptoms of urgency associated with dyspnoea, and this did not vary between men with and without urinary incontinence (P=0.138). In men with COPD, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) was lower in those with urinary incontinence compared with those without urinary incontinence {mean 38 [standard deviation (SD) 14] % predicted vs 61 (SD 24) % predicted; P=0.002}. The impact of urinary incontinence did not differ between the two groups (P=0.333). ConclusionsIncontinence is more prevalent in men with COPD than in men without lung disease. The prevalence of urinary incontinence increases with greater disease severity, as reflected by lower FEV1. Screening for urinary incontinence should be considered in men with COPD and compromised lung function.