To assess the health related quality of life (HRQoL) and sexual function related to urinary incontinence (UI) severity among women with overweight or obesity.
From September 2023 to January 2024, a cross-sectional was conducted among women seeking weight loss with overweight or obesity focusing on the symptoms and effects of UI. The degree of UI severity, UI-specific HRQoL, sexual function, and generic HRQoL were detected via Incontinence Modular Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI-SF), Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-Short Form (IIQ-7), Short-form Prolapse Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12), and European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions 5-Level questionnaire (EQ-5D-5 L) respectively.
Out of 1205 valid responses, 564 (46.8%) reported UI with 354 classified as mild, 179 as moderate, and 31 as severe based on ICIQ-UI-SF scores. The mean age and body mass index of the respondents were 36.65 years and 29.9 kg/m², respectively. Individuals with more severe symptoms of UI exhibited correspondingly lower levels of UI-specific HRQoL, sexual function, and generic HRQoL. Although the correlations were weak, the severity of UI symptoms measured by ICIQ-UI-SF and IIQ-7 were significantly correlated with the mean utility values (r=-0.335, and - 0.351, P<0.001) of EQ-5D-5 L especially in the domains of anxiety/depression symptoms (r = 0.339 and 0.322, P<0.001).
Nearly half of women seeking weight loss with overweight or obesity may experience UI, which significantly affects HRQoL and sexual function. The severity of UI symptoms is significantly correlated with the generic HRQoL measured by EQ-5D-5 L, especially in the domain of anxiety/depression symptoms.
Overweight and obesity have become prevalent societal issues that are modifiable risk factors for urinary incontinence (UI). However, the specific conditions of UI and its effect on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and sexual function among these populations are still undefined and are crucial for the development of targeted interventions and preventive strategies among these high-risk populations. In this study, we first comprehensively evaluated the effect of UI severity on the disease-specific and generic HRQoL and sexual function among women seeking weight loss with overweight or obesity. Nearly half of women with overweight or obesity may experience UI, which significantly affects HRQoL and sexual function. Individuals with more severe symptoms of UI exhibited correspondingly lower levels of UI-specific HRQoL, sexual function, and generic HRQoL. Although the correlations were weak, the severity of UI symptoms was significantly correlated with the generic HRQoL measured by EQ-5D-5 L, especially in the domain of anxiety/depression symptoms.
Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation. 2024 Dec 07 [Epub ahead of print]
Zhao Tian, Xiuqi Wang, Linru Fu, Zhe Du, Tangdi Lin, Wei Chen, Zhijing Sun
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetric & Gynecologic Diseases, No. 1 Shuaifu Road, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China., Department of Clinical Nutrition, Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetric & Gynecologic Diseases, No. 1 Shuaifu Road, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China. .