Abstract

ESPUNA PONS, M.  and  PUIG CLOTA, M.. Lower urinary tract symptoms in women and impact on quality of life: Results of the application of the king's health questionnaire. Actas Urol Esp [online]. 2006, vol.30, n.7, pp.684-691. ISSN 0210-4806.

Background: The self-assessment of quality of life (QoL) of women with urinary symptoms may help in selecting the best treatment in each case. Method: Epidemiologic, observational, cross-sectional and multicentric study of 674 women who underwent to a gynecology unit with symptoms suggesting Overactive Bladder, with or without urinary incontinence(UI). All women fill out the King's Health Questionnaire. Sociodemographic data and a complete register of urinary symptoms and the degree of afectation which caused, were also collected. Results: Most frequent symptoms were "frequency" (612 women-90.8%), followed by "urgency" (562-83.4%), "nocturia" (543-80.6%) and "stres UI" (535-79.4%). Symptoms of "frecuency", "nocturia", "urgency" and "urgency UI" were more frequent in women aged 65 or under 65 years and that of "stress UI", in women over 65 years (79.8% vs 77.9%). 210 women did not fill out all the KHQ dimensions, mainly "Personal Limitations", "Personal Relationship", "Social limitations" and "Incontinence Impact". Global KHQ score was38.3 (SD=19.2). Higher scores (worse QoL) corresponded to "Incontinence Impact", "Severity Measures", "Personal Limitations" and "Role Limitations". Variables associated to global KHQ score were (multiple linear regression): age, BMI, urgency UI, UI in sexual intercourse, frequent urinary infections. Conclusions: QoL impact in women with urinary symptoms is important. The symptoms with higher association with QoL are: UI in sexual intercourse, urgency UI and frequent urinary infections.

Keywords : Urinary symptoms; Overactive Bladder; Quality of Life; Female.

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