Urinary Incontinence and Quality of Life in Female Patients with Obesity

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) in female patients with an indication for bariatric surgery, to investigate the potential risk factors and the impact on quality of life. METHODS: A cross-sectional study with female patients with obesity. The evaluation consisted of a structured interview, a specific study form and quality of life questionnaires. The Poisson regression was performed to identify independent risk factors related to UI. RESULTS: A total of 221 patients were enrolled; 118 of the study participants (53.4%) reported UI episodes. Mixed UI (MUI), stress UI (SUI) only, and urgency UI (UUI) only were reported by 52.5% (62), 33.9% (40) , and 13.5% (16) of these patients respectively. The prevalence of UI was increased by 47% among the women who had given birth vaginally and by 34% of the women who had entered menopause. Vaginal delivery and menopause were identified as independent risk factors related to UI. The mean International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire - Short Form (ICIQ-SF) score was 9.36 ± 4.9. The severity of symptoms was considered moderate in 53.3% (63) of the patients with UI. CONCLUSION: Urinary incontinence impacts quality of life negatively, and the prevalence of UI is high among obese patients. In the present study, vaginal delivery and menopause were independently associated with UI.