The effects of stress urinary incontinence on the quality of life of Turkish women in the reproductive age group

Authors: ELÇİN BALCI, ÖZLEM GÜRLEVİK, İSKENDER GÜN, OSMAN GÜNAY

Abstract: This study was performed in order to evaluate the effect of urinary incontinence (UI) on the quality of life of women in the reproductive age group. Materials and methods: Included in the study were 150 women with UI [stress urinary incontinence (SUI) or mixed urinary incontinence (MUI)] and 150 healthy women, ranging in age between 15 and 49 years. Short Form 36 (SF-36) and the Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6) were filled in by the women in both groups and the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7) was filled in only by the women in the UI group. Unpaired t-tests and the general linear model (GLM) were used for statistical analyses. Results: It was determined that the quality of life scores for all of the domains were significantly lower and the UDI-6 scores were significantly higher in the UI group than in the controls. The physical functioning, vitality, and social functioning scores of the women with MUI were lower than those of the women with pure SUI. Conclusion: The quality of life of women with SUI and MUI was significantly lower than the women without UI. For this reason, UI should be treated adequately.

Keywords: Urinary incontinence, quality of life, woman, urogenital distress inventory, incontinence impact questionnaire

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