Overview of the Social Impact of Urinary Incontinence
Overview of the Social Impact of Urinary Incontinence
Although urinary incontinence is a common problem among women and can seriously affect their quality of life, more than half of women report no discomfort with the disorder, and most do not seek medical help. In Turkey, women traditionally prefer not to seek medical advice for a urinary incontinence problem. Except for treatment-seeking behaviors, women practice coping methods for the management of urinary incontinence. The problem of urinary incontinence has been gaining more importance in recent years, and nurses' roles and responsibilities have been increased in this area. Consequently, there have been developments in Turkey related to the education of nurses.
Urinary incontinence (UI) is a condition marked by the involuntary loss of urine. Called the "silent epidemic," UI is not a lifethreatening condition, but it is a worldwide problem, affecting approximately 250 million adults in the world population (Milsom, 2009). In studies conducted in diverse countries and among different populations, it has been discovered that with percentages varying between 5% to 69%, lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) have a high prevalence in females. Further, these symptoms may increase with age (Anger, Saigal, & Litwin, 2006; Boyle et al., 2003; Litman et al., 2007; Milsom, 2009; Moller, Lose, & Jorgensen, 2000; Norby, Nordling, & Mortensen, 2005; Shimabukuro, Takahashi, & Naito, 2006; Zhang et al., 2005).
In a population-based, epidemiological study on LUTS, urinary incontinence, and overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms in adults (18 years old and older) in five countries (Canada, Germany, Italy, Sweden, and England), the general prevalence of LUTS was 67% among females and this rate increased with age (Irwin et al., 2006). In the same study, the highest increases in LUTS were seen between the ages of 40 to 59, with an increased rate of 5.9%. The components of LUTS most widespread in females were nocturia at 54.5% and stress urinary incontinence at 48.9%.
Conversely, in this same study, general prevalence of LUTS was 62.5% in men, with UI reported by 5.4% of men. All symptoms among men increased in prevalence with advancing age, especially for those 60 years of age or older (Irwin et al., 2006). In an epidemiological, population-based, prospective cohort study of men with UI (496 men aged 65 to 106 years old), prevalence of incontinence at baseline was 27% (Goode et al., 2008). In a population-based study conducted in Turkey consisting of 2000 participants over 65 years of age, UI prevalence was 21.5% in men (Ateskan, Mas, Doruk, & Kutlu, 2000).
Abstract and Introduction
Abstract
Although urinary incontinence is a common problem among women and can seriously affect their quality of life, more than half of women report no discomfort with the disorder, and most do not seek medical help. In Turkey, women traditionally prefer not to seek medical advice for a urinary incontinence problem. Except for treatment-seeking behaviors, women practice coping methods for the management of urinary incontinence. The problem of urinary incontinence has been gaining more importance in recent years, and nurses' roles and responsibilities have been increased in this area. Consequently, there have been developments in Turkey related to the education of nurses.
Introduction
Urinary incontinence (UI) is a condition marked by the involuntary loss of urine. Called the "silent epidemic," UI is not a lifethreatening condition, but it is a worldwide problem, affecting approximately 250 million adults in the world population (Milsom, 2009). In studies conducted in diverse countries and among different populations, it has been discovered that with percentages varying between 5% to 69%, lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) have a high prevalence in females. Further, these symptoms may increase with age (Anger, Saigal, & Litwin, 2006; Boyle et al., 2003; Litman et al., 2007; Milsom, 2009; Moller, Lose, & Jorgensen, 2000; Norby, Nordling, & Mortensen, 2005; Shimabukuro, Takahashi, & Naito, 2006; Zhang et al., 2005).
In a population-based, epidemiological study on LUTS, urinary incontinence, and overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms in adults (18 years old and older) in five countries (Canada, Germany, Italy, Sweden, and England), the general prevalence of LUTS was 67% among females and this rate increased with age (Irwin et al., 2006). In the same study, the highest increases in LUTS were seen between the ages of 40 to 59, with an increased rate of 5.9%. The components of LUTS most widespread in females were nocturia at 54.5% and stress urinary incontinence at 48.9%.
Conversely, in this same study, general prevalence of LUTS was 62.5% in men, with UI reported by 5.4% of men. All symptoms among men increased in prevalence with advancing age, especially for those 60 years of age or older (Irwin et al., 2006). In an epidemiological, population-based, prospective cohort study of men with UI (496 men aged 65 to 106 years old), prevalence of incontinence at baseline was 27% (Goode et al., 2008). In a population-based study conducted in Turkey consisting of 2000 participants over 65 years of age, UI prevalence was 21.5% in men (Ateskan, Mas, Doruk, & Kutlu, 2000).
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