Abstract
BackgroundFew studies have investigated the impact of urinary incontinence (UI) on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among cancer survivors. UI is prevalent in the general population and can be both an indicator of cancer and a side effect of cancer treatment. UI and cancer diagnoses have been associated with decreases in HRQOL. This study evaluates the prevalence of UI and the impact on HRQOL among older cancer survivors.MethodsThe prevalence of UI among cancer survivors (breast, prostate, bladder, colorectal, lung, and endometrial/uterine cancers) and those without cancer was estimated using the SEER-MHOS database. Factors associated with UI were investigated using logistic regression and the impact of UI on SF-36 scores was determined using linear regression.ResultsOver 36% of SEER-MHOS beneficiaries without cancer reported UI and higher prevalence was noted among cancer survivors (37%-54% depending on cancer type). History of bladder, breast, endometrial/uterine, or prostate cancer was associated with higher prevalence of UI. UI was independently associated with both lower physical component scores (PCS) (−1.27; 95%CI:-1.34,-1.20) and mental component scores (MCS) (−1.75; 95%CI −1.83, -1.68). A suggested decreasing trend in the prevalence of UI was associated with a longer time since cancer diagnosis.ConclusionsUI was highly prevalent, especially in bladder, endometrial/uterine, and prostate cancer survivors. Improved recognition of UI risk among cancer survivors will help clinicians better anticipate and mediate the effect of UI on individuals’ HRQOL.
Highlights
Few studies have investigated the impact of urinary incontinence (UI) on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among cancer survivors
Medicare beneficiaries who were classified as never diagnosed with cancer did not match to records in SEER and responded negatively to the following question on the MHOS questionnaire: ‘Has a doctor ever told you that you had any cancer?’ Records were ascertained for 6 different cancer types including (1) prostate (n=3,258), (2) breast (n=2,828), (3) colorectal (n=1,739), (4) endometrial and uterine (n=562), (5) bladder (n=749), and (6) lung (n=662), and for participants who had never been diagnosed with cancer (n=319,734)
The mean unadjusted physical component scores (PCS) scores for those diagnosed with cancer, except prostate, were all statistically significantly lower than the mean PCS for participants without cancer
Summary
Few studies have investigated the impact of urinary incontinence (UI) on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among cancer survivors. UI is prevalent in the general population and can be both an indicator of cancer and a side effect of cancer treatment. This study evaluates the prevalence of UI and the impact on HRQOL among older cancer survivors. Longer life spans will contribute to a large-scale population age shift in the United States over the two decades. Older age is associated with comorbid health problems and negative impacts on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) [3,4]. In the U.S, the prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) or symptoms consistent with UI, is approximately 17% among men and 38% among women 60 years of age
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