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NEUROUROLOGY
& FEMALE UROLOGY
doi: 10.1590/S1677-553820090006000027
Prevalence
of incontinence and incontinence-specific quality of life impairment in
women with cystic fibrosis
Vella M, Cartwright R, Cardozo L, Parsons M, Madge S, Burns Y
Department of Urogynaecology, King’s College Hospital, London, UK
Neurourol Urodyn. 2009; 28: 986-9
- Aims:
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the commonest autosomal recessive disorder in
Caucasians. With advancing medical technology, the life expectancy has
more than double in the last twenty years. This has led to new unforeseen
health problems like urinary incontinence. The aim was to establish
the prevalence, symptomatic typology, and quality of life impact of
incontinence in a population of women with CF.
Methods: Women were recruited from two London tertiary referral centres
for CF. They were asked to fill in a self- completed anonymous King’s
Health Questionnaire (KHQ) for assessment of symptoms and quality of
life Impairment. Their age was also noted. Descriptive statistics are
reported. Correlation was assessed using Pearson’s Product Moment
Correlation Coefficient (r).
Results: One hundred and forty six women were approached for enrolment.
98(67%) consented to take part in study. Their mean age was 28. Seventy
three (74%) reported symptoms of urinary incontinence, which in all
cases was perceived as stress urinary incontinence. Of these 44(60%)
reported mild stress incontinence, 16(22%) moderate stress incontinence
and 13(18%) severe stress incontinence. Continent and incontinent women
perceived their general health to be similarly poor (mean score 40 vs.
44 points). Strong positive correiations were found between age and
stress urinary incontinence severity (r = 0.742; P < 0.001) and between
age and total King’s Health Questionnaire score (r = 0.828; P
< 0.001).
Conclusions: Women with CF have a higher prevalence of stress urinary
incontinence than the general population, with both the prevalence and
associated quality of life impairment increasing with age.
- Editorial
Comment
Modern medicine has been able to alter the natural course of many diseases
including that of cystic fibrosis. The authors note the benefit of an
increased life expectancy for this patient population has brought about
an associated higher prevalence for urinary incontinence and subsequent
affectations on the quality of life. The report identifies the urinary
incontinence as primarily stress as opposed to urge. The discussion
section identified that the magnified respiratory symptoms associated
with the disease may be the contributing factor to the increased incidence
of urinary incontinence. The increased association of stress urinary
incontinence in a population of females that challenge the pelvic floor
(though perhaps not secondary to coughing), elite athletes, has been
previously noted (1). That the patients with cystic fibrosis experienced
an adverse effect on their quality of life parallels the findings by
other authors when reviewing psychological and somatic status in patients
with bronchial asthma (2).
References
- Caylet
N, Fabbro-Peray P, Marès P, Dauzat M, Prat-Pradal D, Corcos J:
Prevalence and occurrence of stress urinary incontinence in elite women
athletes. Can J Urol. 2006; 13: 3174-9.
- Baþar
MM, Ekici A, Bulcun E, Tuðlu D, Ekici MS, Batislam E: Female sexual
and hormonal status in patients with bronchial asthma: relationship
with respiratory function tests and psychological and somatic status.
Urology. 2007; 69: 421-5.
Dr.
Steven P. Petrou
Professor of Urology, Associate Dean
Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education
Jacksonville, Florida, USA
E-mail: petrou.steven@mayo.edu
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