Skip to main content
Top
Published in: International Urogynecology Journal 7/2014

01-07-2014 | Original Article

The “bother” of urinary incontinence

Authors: Gerda Trutnovsky, Daniela Ulrich, Rodrigo Guzman Rojas, Kristy Mann, Thomas Aigmueller, Hans P. Dietz

Published in: International Urogynecology Journal | Issue 7/2014

Login to get access

Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis

Patient reported measures are important for the evaluation of symptom-specific bother and the distinction between different types of urinary incontinence. The aim of the study was to assess the validity of physician administered visual analogue scales (VAS) for the bother from stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and urge urinary incontinence (UUI).

Methods

In this prospective cohort study based at a tertiary urogynecological unit, women attending for investigation of lower urinary tract symptoms (n = 504) were asked to indicate their subjective bother from SUI and UUI on a 10-cm VAS. Clinical assessment, including multichannel urodynamic testing and 4D translabial ultrasound was performed for clinical diagnosis. Linear regression was used to model the average increase in VAS bother score of SUI and UUI for each explanatory variable.

Results

74 % (n = 375) reported symptoms of SUI, with mean bother of 5.7 out of 10 (SD 2.8), and 73 % (n = 370) symptoms of UUI, with a mean bother of 6.5 out of 10 (SD 2.6). Bother from UUI was positively associated with the symptoms of nocturia (p < 0.0001) and frequency (p = 0.002), and the urodynamic findings of detrusor overactivity (p < 0.0001). Bother from SUI was positively related to the urodynamic diagnosis of USI (p < 0.0001) and a low abdominal leak point pressure (ALPP) (p = 0.002), as well as to the ultrasound findings of cystourethrocele (p < 0.0001) and funnelling (p = 0.04). All univariate associations remained highly significant on multivariate analysis, controlling for age, BMI, parity, previous incontinence/prolapse surgery and previous hysterectomy.

Conclusions

Physician-administered VAS are a valid, reliable and practicable tool to measure bother related to SUI and UUI.
Literature
1.
go back to reference De Ridder D, Roumeguere T, Kaufman L (2013) Overactive bladder symptoms, stress urinary incontinence and associated bother in women aged 40 and above; a Belgian epidemiological survey. Int J Clin Pract 67:198–204PubMedCrossRef De Ridder D, Roumeguere T, Kaufman L (2013) Overactive bladder symptoms, stress urinary incontinence and associated bother in women aged 40 and above; a Belgian epidemiological survey. Int J Clin Pract 67:198–204PubMedCrossRef
2.
3.
go back to reference Stewart WF, Van Rooyen JB, Cundiff GW, Abrams P, Herzog AR, Corey R et al (2003) Prevalence and burden of overactive bladder in the United States. World J Urol 20:327–336PubMed Stewart WF, Van Rooyen JB, Cundiff GW, Abrams P, Herzog AR, Corey R et al (2003) Prevalence and burden of overactive bladder in the United States. World J Urol 20:327–336PubMed
4.
go back to reference Coyne KS, Sexton CC, Irwin DE, Kopp ZS, Kelleher CJ, Milsom I (2008) The impact of overactive bladder, incontinence and other lower urinary tract symptoms on quality of life, work productivity, sexuality and emotional well-being in men and women: results from the EPIC study. BJU Int 101:1388–1395PubMedCrossRef Coyne KS, Sexton CC, Irwin DE, Kopp ZS, Kelleher CJ, Milsom I (2008) The impact of overactive bladder, incontinence and other lower urinary tract symptoms on quality of life, work productivity, sexuality and emotional well-being in men and women: results from the EPIC study. BJU Int 101:1388–1395PubMedCrossRef
5.
go back to reference Haylen BT, de Ridder D, Freeman RM, Swift SE, Berghmans B, Lee J et al (2010) An International Urogynecological Association (IUGA)/International Continence Society (ICS) joint report on the terminology for female pelvic floor dysfunction. Int Urogynecol J 21:5–26PubMedCrossRef Haylen BT, de Ridder D, Freeman RM, Swift SE, Berghmans B, Lee J et al (2010) An International Urogynecological Association (IUGA)/International Continence Society (ICS) joint report on the terminology for female pelvic floor dysfunction. Int Urogynecol J 21:5–26PubMedCrossRef
6.
go back to reference Parker-Autry CY, Barber MD, Kenton K, Richter HE (2013) Measuring outcomes in urogynecological surgery: “perspective is everything”. Int Urogynecol J 24:15–25PubMedCentralPubMedCrossRef Parker-Autry CY, Barber MD, Kenton K, Richter HE (2013) Measuring outcomes in urogynecological surgery: “perspective is everything”. Int Urogynecol J 24:15–25PubMedCentralPubMedCrossRef
7.
go back to reference Abrams P, Artibani W, Gajewski JB, Hussain I (2006) Assessment of treatment outcomes in patients with overactive bladder: importance of objective and subjective measures. Urology 68:17–28PubMedCrossRef Abrams P, Artibani W, Gajewski JB, Hussain I (2006) Assessment of treatment outcomes in patients with overactive bladder: importance of objective and subjective measures. Urology 68:17–28PubMedCrossRef
8.
go back to reference Uebersax JS, Wyman JF, Shumaker SA, McClish DK, Fantl JA (1995) Short forms to assess life quality and symptom distress for urinary incontinence in women: the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire and the Urogenital Distress Inventory. Continence Program for Women Research Group. Neurourol Urodyn 14:131–139PubMedCrossRef Uebersax JS, Wyman JF, Shumaker SA, McClish DK, Fantl JA (1995) Short forms to assess life quality and symptom distress for urinary incontinence in women: the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire and the Urogenital Distress Inventory. Continence Program for Women Research Group. Neurourol Urodyn 14:131–139PubMedCrossRef
9.
go back to reference Bjelic-Radisic V, Dorfer M, Tamussino K, Greimel E (2005) Psychometric properties and validation of the German-language King’s Health Questionnaire in women with stress urinary incontinence. Neurourol Urodyn 24:63–68PubMedCrossRef Bjelic-Radisic V, Dorfer M, Tamussino K, Greimel E (2005) Psychometric properties and validation of the German-language King’s Health Questionnaire in women with stress urinary incontinence. Neurourol Urodyn 24:63–68PubMedCrossRef
10.
go back to reference Stach-Lempinen B, Kujansuu E, Laippala P, Metsanoja R (2001) Visual analogue scale, urinary incontinence severity score and 15 D–psychometric testing of three different health-related quality-of-life instruments for urinary incontinent women. Scand J Urol Nephrol 35:476–483PubMedCrossRef Stach-Lempinen B, Kujansuu E, Laippala P, Metsanoja R (2001) Visual analogue scale, urinary incontinence severity score and 15 D–psychometric testing of three different health-related quality-of-life instruments for urinary incontinent women. Scand J Urol Nephrol 35:476–483PubMedCrossRef
11.
go back to reference Abdel-Fattah M, Ramsay I, Barrington JW (2007) A simple visual analogue scale to assess the quality of life in women with urinary incontinence. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 133:86–89PubMedCrossRef Abdel-Fattah M, Ramsay I, Barrington JW (2007) A simple visual analogue scale to assess the quality of life in women with urinary incontinence. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 133:86–89PubMedCrossRef
12.
go back to reference Lukacz ES, Lawrence JM, Burchette RJ, Luber KM, Nager CW, Buckwalter JG (2004) The use of Visual Analog Scale in urogynecologic research: a psychometric evaluation. Am J Obstet Gynecol 191:165–170PubMedCrossRef Lukacz ES, Lawrence JM, Burchette RJ, Luber KM, Nager CW, Buckwalter JG (2004) The use of Visual Analog Scale in urogynecologic research: a psychometric evaluation. Am J Obstet Gynecol 191:165–170PubMedCrossRef
13.
go back to reference Stach-Lempinen B, Kirkinen P, Laippala P, Metsanoja R, Kujansuu E (2004) Do objective urodynamic or clinical findings determine impact of urinary incontinence or its treatment on quality of life? Urology 63:67–71, discussion 71–62PubMedCrossRef Stach-Lempinen B, Kirkinen P, Laippala P, Metsanoja R, Kujansuu E (2004) Do objective urodynamic or clinical findings determine impact of urinary incontinence or its treatment on quality of life? Urology 63:67–71, discussion 71–62PubMedCrossRef
14.
go back to reference Ulrich D, Rojas RG, Dietz HP, Mann K, Trutnovsky G (2013) Evaluation of VAS for bother of prolapse. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol doi: 10.1002/uog.13222 Ulrich D, Rojas RG, Dietz HP, Mann K, Trutnovsky G (2013) Evaluation of VAS for bother of prolapse. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol doi: 10.​1002/​uog.​13222
15.
go back to reference Ryhammer AM, Laurberg S, Djurhuus JC, Hermann AP (1998) No relationship between subjective assessment of urinary incontinence and pad test weight gain in a random population sample of menopausal women. J Urol 159:800–803PubMedCrossRef Ryhammer AM, Laurberg S, Djurhuus JC, Hermann AP (1998) No relationship between subjective assessment of urinary incontinence and pad test weight gain in a random population sample of menopausal women. J Urol 159:800–803PubMedCrossRef
16.
go back to reference Jackson S (1997) The patient with an overactive bladder–symptoms and quality-of-life issues. Urology 50:18–22, discussion 23–14PubMedCrossRef Jackson S (1997) The patient with an overactive bladder–symptoms and quality-of-life issues. Urology 50:18–22, discussion 23–14PubMedCrossRef
17.
go back to reference Frazer MI, Sutherst JR, Holland EF (1987) Visual analogue scores and urinary incontinence. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 295:582CrossRef Frazer MI, Sutherst JR, Holland EF (1987) Visual analogue scores and urinary incontinence. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 295:582CrossRef
18.
go back to reference Frazer MI, Haylen BT, Sutherst JR (1989) The severity of urinary incontinence in women. Comparison of subjective and objective tests. Br J Urol 63:14–15PubMedCrossRef Frazer MI, Haylen BT, Sutherst JR (1989) The severity of urinary incontinence in women. Comparison of subjective and objective tests. Br J Urol 63:14–15PubMedCrossRef
19.
go back to reference Dietz HP, Nazemian K, Shek KL, Martin A (2013) Can urodynamic stress incontinence be diagnosed by ultrasound? Int Urogynecol J 24:1399–1403PubMedCrossRef Dietz HP, Nazemian K, Shek KL, Martin A (2013) Can urodynamic stress incontinence be diagnosed by ultrasound? Int Urogynecol J 24:1399–1403PubMedCrossRef
20.
go back to reference Chantarasorn V, Dietz HP (2012) Diagnosis of cystocele type by clinical examination and pelvic floor ultrasound. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 39:710–714PubMedCrossRef Chantarasorn V, Dietz HP (2012) Diagnosis of cystocele type by clinical examination and pelvic floor ultrasound. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 39:710–714PubMedCrossRef
21.
go back to reference Bo K (1994) Reproducibility of instruments designed to measure subjective evaluation of female stress urinary incontinence. Scand J Urol Nephrol 28:97–100PubMedCrossRef Bo K (1994) Reproducibility of instruments designed to measure subjective evaluation of female stress urinary incontinence. Scand J Urol Nephrol 28:97–100PubMedCrossRef
22.
go back to reference Guyatt GH, Feeny DH, Patrick DL (1993) Measuring health-related quality of life. Ann Intern Med 118:622–629PubMedCrossRef Guyatt GH, Feeny DH, Patrick DL (1993) Measuring health-related quality of life. Ann Intern Med 118:622–629PubMedCrossRef
23.
go back to reference Rodriguez LV, Blander DS, Dorey F, Raz S, Zimmern P (2003) Discrepancy in patient and physician perception of patient’s quality of life related to urinary symptoms. Urology 62:49–53PubMedCrossRef Rodriguez LV, Blander DS, Dorey F, Raz S, Zimmern P (2003) Discrepancy in patient and physician perception of patient’s quality of life related to urinary symptoms. Urology 62:49–53PubMedCrossRef
24.
go back to reference Lemack GE, Zimmern PE (1999) Predictability of urodynamic findings based on the Urogenital Distress Inventory-6 questionnaire. Urology 54:461–466PubMedCrossRef Lemack GE, Zimmern PE (1999) Predictability of urodynamic findings based on the Urogenital Distress Inventory-6 questionnaire. Urology 54:461–466PubMedCrossRef
25.
go back to reference Marschall-Kehrel D, Roberts RG, Brubaker L (2006) Patient-reported outcomes in overactive bladder: the influence of perception of condition and expectation for treatment benefit. Urology 68:29–37PubMedCrossRef Marschall-Kehrel D, Roberts RG, Brubaker L (2006) Patient-reported outcomes in overactive bladder: the influence of perception of condition and expectation for treatment benefit. Urology 68:29–37PubMedCrossRef
Metadata
Title
The “bother” of urinary incontinence
Authors
Gerda Trutnovsky
Daniela Ulrich
Rodrigo Guzman Rojas
Kristy Mann
Thomas Aigmueller
Hans P. Dietz
Publication date
01-07-2014
Publisher
Springer London
Published in
International Urogynecology Journal / Issue 7/2014
Print ISSN: 0937-3462
Electronic ISSN: 1433-3023
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-014-2337-6

Other articles of this Issue 7/2014

International Urogynecology Journal 7/2014 Go to the issue