Saadoun Karim, Ringa Virginie, Fritel Xavier, Varnoux Noëlle, Zins Marie, Bréart Gérard
INSERM, UMR S149, IFR 69, Epidemiological Research on Perinatal Health and Women's Health, Villejuif, France.
Neurourol Urodyn. 2006;25(7):696-702. doi: 10.1002/nau.20245.
The aim of the study was to analyze the relations between severity of urinary incontinence (UI), defined as involuntary loss of urine considered to be a hygienic or social problem, and quality of life (QoL) among middle-aged French working women enrolled in a cohort study, while taking into account characteristics that may affect this relation.
Data came from self-administered mail questionnaires completed by 2,640 women aged 49-61 years in the GAZEL cohort of utility company employees. The analysis considered social and demographic characteristics, lifestyle, hormone status, and body mass index. We used bivariate and multivariate analysis to study the associations between UI severity (measured by SANDVIK's index) and QoL scales (Contilife, specific for UI, and the generic Nottingham Health Profile).
The sample included 556 women (21%) with UI. QoL alterations associated with UI severity were observed for all six Contilife dimensions (daily and effort activities, self-image, emotional impact, sexuality, and well-being) and two dimensions of the NHP (pain and physical mobility). These results remain after adjustment for age, BMI, and living arrangements.
UI affects QoL even among women from a nonclinical population, and the more severe the UI, the more harmful the effect. These results raise the question of whether UI in its severe forms should be considered a disability because of its negative effects on mobility in daily life.
本研究旨在分析尿失禁（UI）严重程度与生活质量（QoL）之间的关系。尿失禁被定义为非自愿性尿液流失，被视为卫生或社会问题。研究对象为参与队列研究的法国中年职业女性，并考虑了可能影响这种关系的特征。
数据来自公用事业公司员工GAZEL队列中2640名年龄在49 - 61岁女性自行填写的邮寄问卷。分析考虑了社会和人口统计学特征、生活方式、激素状态和体重指数。我们使用双变量和多变量分析来研究UI严重程度（通过桑德维克指数测量）与生活质量量表（Contilife，专门针对UI，以及通用的诺丁汉健康概况）之间的关联。
样本包括556名（21%）有尿失禁的女性。在Contilife的所有六个维度（日常和费力活动、自我形象、情感影响、性和幸福感）以及诺丁汉健康概况的两个维度（疼痛和身体活动能力）中，均观察到与UI严重程度相关的生活质量改变。在对年龄、体重指数和生活安排进行调整后，这些结果仍然成立。
即使在非临床人群的女性中，尿失禁也会影响生活质量，而且尿失禁越严重，影响越有害。这些结果提出了一个问题，即由于其对日常生活活动能力的负面影响，严重形式的尿失禁是否应被视为一种残疾。
