Lower urinary tract symptoms and quality of life of women in Trat Province.

Abstract

Objective : To determine the prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms and the impact on quality of life of women in Trat Province.

Methods : From September 2003 to February 2004, a population-based cross-sectional survey was performed. A lower urinary tract symptoms-specific questionnaire and incontinence-specific quality of life questionnaire was administered to 1,500 women in Amphor Muang, Trat Province. Demographic data, obstetric history, medical diseases, and score of quality of life were analysed by using Student t-test and ANOVA. P < .05 was considered as a level of significance.

Result : A total of 1,128 women, mean age 39.08 ± 13.61 years (range; 15-95 years),completed the questionnaire. Lower urinary tract symptoms was found in 80.2 percent of women in Trat Province. The prevalence of nocturia, stress incontinence, urgency, frequency, and urge incontinence were 73.0 percent, 33.6 percent, 17.4 percent, 11.9 percent, and 11.0 percent, respectively.The results showed that incontinence-specific quality of life was affected by lower urinary tract symptoms in aspects of avoidance and limiting behavior, psychosocial impacts and social embarrassment.

Conclusion : Lower urinary tract symptoms was a common problem among women of all ages in Trat Province and it adversely affected quality of life.