Effect of Urinary Incontinence on Quality of Life among Iranian Women

OBJECTIVE: Present study aimed to evaluate the effects of stress, urge and mixed urinary incontinence on the quality of life and mental health of Iranian women with urinary incontinence (UI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross sectional study of quality of life and mental health among women without and with different types of urinary incontinence (n = 140). Quality of life (QOL) and mental health were compared and measured using the Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6), the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7) and the 12-items General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). RESULTS: Women with any types of urinary incontinence showed a significant lower degree of mental health. Women with mixed incontinence reported significantly lower QOL and mental health (P < 0.0001) compared to those with stress and urge incontinence, while there was no significant difference between women with stress and urge incontinence (P= 0.95). CONCLUSION: Patients with UI showed inferior mental health and QOL while these symptoms were more severe among patients with mixed urinary incontinence.