Mixed incontinence is more bothersome than pure incontinence subtypes.

The purpose of the study was to compare incontinence bother in women with mixed incontinence versus pure incontinence subtypes. This is an institutional review board-approved study comparing physical exam findings and responses to the Medical Epidemiologic and Social Aspects of Aging (MESA) questionnaire and the Urinary Distress Inventory (UDI-6). The MESA responses were used to classify women as mixed, pure stress, or pure urge incontinence. This analysis includes 551 women with a mean age of 56 +/- 16 years. Most women were Caucasian (86%) with 7% African American and 5% Hispanic. UDI scores were significantly higher in women with mixed incontinence (61 +/- 23) than those with pure stress incontinence (40 +/- 26) or pure urge incontinence (40 +/- 25; p < 0.0001). Women with mixed incontinence report greater incontinence bother than women with either pure stress or urge incontinence.