Comparison of three disease-specific quality-of-life questionnaires (Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms, Incontinence Quality of Life and King's Health Questionnaire) in women with stress urinary incontinence.

OBJECTIVES

To examine the impact of stress urinary incontinence (UI) on quality of life (QOL) using three disease-specific QOL instruments and compare the results obtained with these instruments.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 28 women (age range 36-74 years) with stress UI were included in the study. To obtain QOL assessments, patients were asked to complete the Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (BFLUTS), Incontinence Quality of Life (I-QoL) and King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ) instruments.

RESULTS

One domain in the BFLUTS (Incontinence symptoms) and one in the KHQ (Severity measures) correlated inversely with the Valsalva leak point pressure and the cough leak point pressure, respectively; however, other domains in the three questionnaires did not correlate with objective data. Two BFLUTS domains (Incontinence symptoms and QOL) correlated weakly or moderately with six KHQ domains; however, other BFLUTS domains did not correlate with most KHQ domains. Significant negative correlations were noted between two BFLUTS domains (Incontinence symptoms and QOL) and most I-QoL domains; however, other BFLUTS domains did not correlate with the I-QoL. Role limitations, Emotional problems and Severity measures in the KHQ correlated weakly or moderately with the I-QoL; however, General health and Personal relationships did not correlate significantly with the I-QoL.

CONCLUSIONS

Subjective QOL results of stress UI using condition-specific QOL questionnaires may differ because there are a plethora of measurement instruments that vary in terms of their scope and content. Our findings suggest that, before deciding on an instrument, its contents should be thoroughly reviewed to ensure that a particular aspect of QOL does not need additional assessment.