PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and potential risk factors associated with urinary incontinence (UI) in women and to assess its impact on quality of life (QOL).DESIGN: We undertook a cross-sectional study based on interviews, using a structured questionnaire.SUBJECTS AND SETTING: Two hundred eighty-eight women, aged 19 years and older, from gynecology outpatient clinics attached to a university hospital in Ankara, Turkey, were interviewed.INSTRUMENTS: Data were collected via a Turkish version of the international consultation on incontinence questionnaire short form (ICIQ-SF) and the Wagner's quality of life scale.METHODS: Data were collected by face-to-face interviews with subjects and took approximately 30 minutes to complete. Potential risk factors were analyzed using logistic regression.RESULTS: The prevalence of UI was 31.9%. Logistic regression analysis indicated that the number of pregnancies (odds ratio [OR] = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.28-0.99), UI in mother (OR = 2.46, 95% CI: 1.35-4.50) and sister (OR = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.16-0.77), previous UI during pregnancy (OR = 12.22, 95% CI: 4.11-36.36) and postpartum period (OR = 11.28, 95% CI: 3.66-34.76), and body mass index (OR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.29-0.85) were associated with a higher likelihood of incontinence (P < .05). Ninety-two of 288 women (31.9%) stated that UI has a negative impact on their QOL and only 40 of 92 (43.5%) had asked for medical help. Impairment of QOL was related with the type of UI, frequency of UI episode, and amount of leakage.CONCLUSION: Our study results determined that UI is common in Turkish women. The QOL of women was mostly mildly or moderately affected by UI.
Adult Aged