The correlations of incontinence-related quality of life measures with symptom severity and pathophysiology in women with primary stress urinary incontinence.

PURPOSE: We sought to explore the correlations of incontinence-related quality of life (QoL) measures with the symptom severity and pathophysiological factors for female stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the records of 707 women who had primary SUI. Clinical data for analysis included Ingelman-Sundberg scales, 1-h pad tests, incontinence-related QoL questionnaires comprising short forms of the Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6) and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7), ultrasound assessment of urethral support and urethral sphincter function determined by maximum urethral closure pressure and Valsalva leak point pressure. The correlations of incontinence-related QoL, measured by UDI-6 and IIQ-7 questionnaires, with the independent variables such as Ingelman-Sundberg scales, 1-h pad tests, urethral support and urethral sphincter function were investigated.

RESULTS

The scores of item 3 of UDI-6 as well as the sum scores of UDI-6 and IIQ-7 had significant correlation with incontinence severity assessed by Ingelman-Sundberg scales and 1-h pad tests. However, only the scores of item 3 of UDI-6 were significantly correlated with the presence of bladder neck funneling on ultrasound and maximum urethral closure pressure. No correlations exist between sum scores of UDI-6 or IIQ-7 and the pathophysiological factors of SUI.

CONCLUSIONS

Urogenital Distress Inventory-6 and IIQ-7 play important and complementary roles in comprehensive assessment for SUI, but are not identical to the pathophysiological factors.