Symptom Severity and Its Impact on Daily Life in Women with Urinary Incontinence: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the severity of symptoms, their impact on daily life, and the associated factors in women with urinary incontinence (UI). Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted among women with UI in the province of Istanbul, involving 161 women aged 40 years and older who had given birth at least once between June and September 2021. Data were collected using a questionnaire form, the Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6), and the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7). Results: The mean age of women was 57.08±9.86. Women’s mean score of the UDI-6 and mean score of the IIQ-7 were found to be 46.30±20.61 and 34.45±22.98 respectively. A significant difference was found between the women’s UDI-6 scores and IIQ-7 scores and education, having a vaginal operation, constant drug use, and the behavior at the first appearance of UI (P<0.05). A positive correlation was found between the UDI-6 and the IIQ-7 (r=0.658; P=0.000). Conclusion: The daily life of women with high severity of UI symptoms was more adversely affected. As age, weight, body mass index, the number of births, the number of miscarriages, the number of pregnancies, and the duration of UI increased, the severity of symptoms also increased.