ABSTRACT

Aim: To estimate the prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) and its subtypes in women of Lahore, its severity, associated factors, and impact on their daily life.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Gynaecology OPD, Lady Willingdon Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan.

Population: Women with age 15 years and above, having symptoms of urinary incontinence were randomly selected for the study.

Methods: Data was collected from all the patients attending gynaecology OPD, with symptoms of urinary incontinence and an interview-based structured questionnaire was filled for each patient, followed by the examination of the patient by consultant/ specialist on duty. Urinary incontinence as reported by the participants.

Results: Among the total 500 participants, prevalence of any UI was 11.7% (58/500 with 95% CI 10.5–12.2). Stress incontinence was the most common subtype, with a prevalence of 4.6% (95% CI 4.2–5.2), second common subtype was urge incontinence, with a prevalence of 3.2% (95% CI 2.6–3.6) and third common subtype was mixed incontinence, having a prevalence of 2.8% (95% CI 2.2–3.2), other incontinence had a prevalence of 0.5% (95% CI 0.21–0.61) and continuous incontinence, with a prevalence of 0.5% (95% CI 0.31–0.61). Marriage at early age, higher parity and old age were found to have an independent association with UI. It was found that more than 50% of women with urinary incontinence were facing leakage daily, and 45% women told that UI had a moderate to severe impact on their daily lives. It was also found out that only 15.6% of women having UI took consultation from a doctor.

Conclusion: The reported prevalence of urinary incontinence in participants, found out to be quite less as compared to that in studies, conducted in the developed countries. But among the affected ladies urinary incontinence was commonly present on daily basis than that, is generally found in studies performed in the developed world, but among the affected women urinary incontinence was commonly present on a daily basis and had a significant impact on their everyday lives, yet a small number of them managed to obtain the medical advice.

Keywords: Urinary incontinence, prevalence