Urinary incontinence and health burden of female patients in China: Subtypes, symptom severity and related factors.

Abstract

Urinary incontinence (UI) causes long-term physical and psychological suffering to patients. Risk factors for different UI subtypes and symptom severity are still unclear, as well as their associations. We aimed to examine the potential influencing factors of UI episodes, UI severity and UI subtypes, and the associations among them. A total of 611 women were recruited in Shantou, China. Clinical and demographic data were collected through electronic medical records, measurements and self-reports. UI diagnosis, subtypes and symptom severity were confirmed according to international uniform standards. The health burden of UI was evaluated by the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire. Multivariate logistic and linear regression models were carried out to examine the potential risk factors and associations among UI subtypes, symptom severity, and health burdens. Age, body mass index, comorbidity, lower urinary tract symptoms and constipation were associated with UI episodes and UI severity. Mixed UI patients had worse severity than urgency UI and stress UI, especially in leak times/week and daily life obstructing. Mixed UI patients also had higher health burdens, including mental health burdens, than urgency UI and stress UI patients. UI severity was positively associated with higher health burdens (β=0.46, 95% CI 0.34-0.60), especially in physical activities, travel and social relationship burden (β=0.61, 95% CI 0.40-0.85; β=0.55, 95% CI 0.19-0.76; β=0.65, 95% CI 0.38-0.91; respectively). Age, body mass index, comorbidity, somnipathy and constipation were associated with UI episodes and symptom severity. Mixed UI showed the highest symptoms severity and health burdens. Worse UI severity increased the patient's physical health burden, but was not obvious for mental health burden. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2022; 22: 219-226.