Urinary incontinence: Its prevalence, risk factors and effects on the quality of life of women living in a region of Turkey

Background: The aim of this population-based cross-sectional study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of urinary incontinence (UI) in women aged 20 years or older and to assess its influence on the quality of life (QOL). Materials and Methods: The study group was comprised of 625 women determined using the stratified sampling technique according to age and residence. The data were collected through a questionnaire and the Urinary Incontinence Quality of Life Instrument. Results: The prevalence of UI was 25.8%. UI was significantly associated with body mass index ( OR 12.75, 95% CI 6.68-24.6), diabetes mellitus ( OR 3.55, 95% CI 1.44 - 8.73), neurological disorders ( OR 3.80, 95% CI 1.69 - 8.58), recurrent urinary tract infections ( OR 4.73, 95% CI 2.52 - 8.88). Impairment of QOL was related with the type of UI, frequency of UI episodes, amount of leakage and UI during sexual intercourse. Conclusion: Our study results determined that UI is common in women. The QOL of women was either mildly and moderately affected by UI. Copyright (C) 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel

The association between diabetes mellitus and urinary incontinence in adult women.

Item does not contain fulltextINTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship of diabetes mellitus and urinary incontinence in adult women. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional, comparative study with a case-control design. One thousand three hundred eighty-one women (aged 20-87 years) attending six Primary Healthcare Centers in Turkey were enrolled in this study, after giving their informed consent. Subjects were dichotomized into cases and controls according to presence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and were matched for the confounding factors age, body mass index (BMI), and reproductive history. RESULTS: Nine hundred ten women were included: 273 diabetics and 637 non-diabetics. Diabetes was shown to be associated with a 2.5-fold risk increase for urinary incontinence (UI), and age and BMI were weakly associated with UI. UI was significantly more prevalent in diabetic women: 41% diabetic and 22.1% non-diabetic women reported UI (p < 0.001). Age, BMI, and DM were revealed as independent determinants of UI in adult women. Urge incontinence was more prevalent in non-diabetic women, whereas stress and mixed incontinence were more prevalent among diabetic women. CONCLUSIONS: DM is the most important independent determinant of UI