Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and obesity are problems recognized by the World Health Organization as social diseases. The International Continence Society has estimated that about 10–40% of women have problems with urinary incontinence. Overweight states and obesity are among the biggest health problems in perimenopausal women. The aim of the study was to analyze the impact of SUI on the physical activity (PA) of women in relation to their body weight.
The study comprised 54 women aged 41–67 years with SUI. Anthropometric measurements were taken. Physical activity was examined by specially designed questionnaires. The statistical significance was calculated in the Statistica 12 software using normality tests, correlation coefficient, nonparametric tests, and a post -hoc test.
The mean age of subjects was 55 ±7 years. Body Mass Index (BMI) in subjects was normal (N1) – 11 (20.4%), or indicated the state of being overweight (N2) – 33 (59.2%) or obese (N3) – 11 (20.4%); 94% (51) patients had the android body type and 6% (3) had the gynoidal body type. PA before the onset of problems with SUI was assessed by patients as a sedentary lifestyle – 12 (22.2%), active – 23 (42.6%) or mixed – 19 (35.2%). Subjects, when asked how strong the impact of SUI on their PA was, answered: minor 13 (24.1%), moderate – 14 (25.9%), very strong – 27 (50%). No statistically signi?icant differences between PA and SUI were found in N1, N2 and N3 groups.
Overweight patients reported the strongest impact of SUI on their PA, but the differences between the analysed groups were not signi?icant. Most subjects had the android body type, which was assessed by means of WHR.
Pomeranian journal of life sciences. 0000 Jan [Epub]
Magdalena Ptak, Hanna Mosiejczuk, Aleksandra Szylińska, Iwona Rotter