Impact of Urinary Incontinence on Quality of Life

Abstract

Introduction. Urinary incontinence is the uncontrolled outflow of urine at the age of a person’s life when it should be under voluntary control. It occurs in both sexes but is more common in women. Incontinence is a major social, medical and hygienic problem. Quality of life is seriously threatened when incontinence occurs and limits the individual’s daily functioning. Aim. To identify the impact of urinary incontinence on the quality of life by reviewing research papers and professional literature. Methods. The study was focused on the analysis of data on the quality of life of patients diagnosed with urinary incontinence. Articles published between 2017 and 2022 that were recognized as relevant for the investigation were used. Seven articles were selected for investigation. Results. The results are shown in two steps. The first step consisted of finding suitable, high-quality research papers. The second step was the analysis of the relevant papers. Conclusion. Urinary incontinence is proven to have a great effect on the quality of life and brings with it a number of mental problems such as loss of self-esteem, feelings of discomfort, insecurity, withdrawal and depression. It is important to recognize urinary incontinence on time and implement appropriate treatment methods in order to maintain a level of quality of life that is acceptable for the individual.