Quality of life and factors associated with it in elderly women with urinary incontinence [Üriner inkontinansli yaşli kadinlarda yaşam kalitesi ve etkileyen faktörler]

Abstract

Introduction: Urinary incontinence, which affects women of all age groups, is a crucial health problem, affecting the quality of the life and incidence of it increases especially with aging. Materials and Method: This study was designed as a cross-sectional research to determine to what extent the quality of life of women with urinary incontinence was affected and which factors were involved. The study included women aged 65 years and over who were admitted to a urology outpatient clinic at a provincial hospital with a complaint of urinary incontinence between December 1, 2016 and May 31, 2017. The study data such as demographic characteristics, reproductive features, and complaints related to urinary incontinence were collected using a questionnaire and the Incontinence Quality of Life Scale. Descriptive statistics and Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests were used in data analysis. Results: Incontinence Quality of Life Scale scores significantly decreased in association with age, smoking status, episiotomy status, and increased body mass index; therefore, quality of life was negatively affected in these women (p<0.05). Educational level of the women, presence of chronic disease, type of urinary incontinence, having delivered a baby weighing 4 kg or over, and duration and frequency of urinary incontinence had no statistically significant effect on the quality of life of women (p>0.05). Conclusion: Urinary incontinence negatively affects the quality of life of elderly women. © 2017, Geriatrics Society. All rights reserved.