Females have a higher risk of urinary tract infections and experience more worries than males

IF 0.4 Q4 NURSING

International Journal of Urological Nursing Pub Date : 2024-06-19 DOI:10.1111/ijun.12405

Susanne Vahr Lauridsen RN, PhD, Rikke Vaabengaard MSc, R. Zeeberg MSc, Lotte Jacobsen MSc, Sabrina Islamoska MSc, PhD

{"title":"Females have a higher risk of urinary tract infections and experience more worries than males","authors":"Susanne Vahr Lauridsen RN, PhD, Rikke Vaabengaard MSc, R. Zeeberg MSc, Lotte Jacobsen MSc, Sabrina Islamoska MSc, PhD","doi":"10.1111/ijun.12405","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div>\n \n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Introduction and Objectives</h3>\n \n <p>Evidence shows differences in referral and management patterns for urinary symptoms between sexes, which seem to influence catheterization rates and that females experience more urinary tract infections (UTIs). Using patient-reported data from clean intermittent catheter (CIC) users, we investigated sex differences in UTI symptoms, behaviour when having a UTI, and worries related to UTIs.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Materials and Methods</h3>\n \n <p>In March–April 2022, an online survey of 60 questions was distributed among 55 235 CIC users recruited through a customer panel in 11 European countries, Australia, and the United States. Results are based on descriptive analyses presented in proportions and percentages. The participants' data were treated with confidentiality in compliance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation, and the analyses were performed with aggregated anonymous data.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Results</h3>\n \n <p>Among 3464 CIC users who responded to the survey, there were 37% females. The four most prevalent urinary problems among females were urinary retention (34%), urinary incontinence (34%), residual urine (32%), and overactive bladder (32%). In addition, among females, 65% had bowel dysfunction, 63% experienced minimum one antibiotic treated UTI within the last year, 53% worried about not emptying their bladder completely, while 71% worried about acquiring a UTI. The overall UTI mean in the study population was 1.88 UTIs/year (95% CI; 1.71–2.07). Females had a 43% higher risk of UTIs compared with males (relative risk: 1.43; 95% CI: 1.26–1.62).</p>\n \n <p>When having UTIs, there was a significant difference when comparing the reporting of UTI symptoms in females versus males, as females experienced more incontinence (33% vs. 21%), more lower abdominal pain (30% vs. 15%), more discomfort or pain when urinating (41% vs. 31%), discomfort or pain over the kidneys (29% vs. 13%), and less fever (16% vs. 29%). Females also used more supplements (36% vs. 25%), drank more fluid (66% vs. 55%), and took home urine tests (21% vs. 13%).</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Conclusions</h3>\n \n <p>Findings from this cross-sectional study underline the sex differences in reporting of UTI symptoms, behaviour when having a UTI, and worries related to UTIs. Untreated urinary symptoms may have impactful consequences for health-related quality of life, thus, it is important for nurses to know the sex differences in urinary symptoms to identify any risk of UTIs.</p>\n \n <p>Implications for nursing practice or research: Our study results add new insight to the sparse evidence about female CIC user symptoms and behaviour when having a UTI. This knowledge is useful when assessing the risk of UTIs among CIC users.</p>\n </section>\n </div>","PeriodicalId":50281,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Urological Nursing","volume":"18 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.4000,"publicationDate":"2024-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"International Journal of Urological Nursing","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ijun.12405","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"NURSING","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction and Objectives

Evidence shows differences in referral and management patterns for urinary symptoms between sexes, which seem to influence catheterization rates and that females experience more urinary tract infections (UTIs). Using patient-reported data from clean intermittent catheter (CIC) users, we investigated sex differences in UTI symptoms, behaviour when having a UTI, and worries related to UTIs.

Materials and Methods

In March–April 2022, an online survey of 60 questions was distributed among 55 235 CIC users recruited through a customer panel in 11 European countries, Australia, and the United States. Results are based on descriptive analyses presented in proportions and percentages. The participants' data were treated with confidentiality in compliance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation, and the analyses were performed with aggregated anonymous data.

Results

Among 3464 CIC users who responded to the survey, there were 37% females. The four most prevalent urinary problems among females were urinary retention (34%), urinary incontinence (34%), residual urine (32%), and overactive bladder (32%). In addition, among females, 65% had bowel dysfunction, 63% experienced minimum one antibiotic treated UTI within the last year, 53% worried about not emptying their bladder completely, while 71% worried about acquiring a UTI. The overall UTI mean in the study population was 1.88 UTIs/year (95% CI; 1.71–2.07). Females had a 43% higher risk of UTIs compared with males (relative risk: 1.43; 95% CI: 1.26–1.62).

When having UTIs, there was a significant difference when comparing the reporting of UTI symptoms in females versus males, as females experienced more incontinence (33% vs. 21%), more lower abdominal pain (30% vs. 15%), more discomfort or pain when urinating (41% vs. 31%), discomfort or pain over the kidneys (29% vs. 13%), and less fever (16% vs. 29%). Females also used more supplements (36% vs. 25%), drank more fluid (66% vs. 55%), and took home urine tests (21% vs. 13%).

Conclusions

Findings from this cross-sectional study underline the sex differences in reporting of UTI symptoms, behaviour when having a UTI, and worries related to UTIs. Untreated urinary symptoms may have impactful consequences for health-related quality of life, thus, it is important for nurses to know the sex differences in urinary symptoms to identify any risk of UTIs.

Implications for nursing practice or research: Our study results add new insight to the sparse evidence about female CIC user symptoms and behaviour when having a UTI. This knowledge is useful when assessing the risk of UTIs among CIC users.

查看原文本刊更多论文

与男性相比，女性患尿路感染的风险更高，烦恼也更多

简介和目的有证据表明，不同性别在泌尿系统症状的转诊和管理模式上存在差异，这似乎会影响导尿率，而且女性会经历更多的尿路感染 (UTI)。我们利用洁净间歇导尿管（CIC）使用者的患者报告数据，调查了尿路感染症状、患尿路感染时的行为以及与尿路感染有关的担忧方面的性别差异。材料与方法 2022 年 3 月至 4 月，我们通过客户小组在 11 个欧洲国家、澳大利亚和美国招募了 55 235 名 CIC 用户，向他们发放了一份包含 60 个问题的在线调查问卷。调查结果基于描述性分析，以比例和百分比表示。根据欧盟《通用数据保护条例》，对参与者的数据进行了保密处理，并对匿名数据进行了汇总分析。结果在参与调查的 3464 名 CIC 用户中，女性占 37%。女性最常见的四种排尿问题是尿潴留（34%）、尿失禁（34%）、残余尿（32%）和膀胱过度活动症（32%）。此外，65%的女性有排便功能障碍，63%的女性在过去一年中至少经历过一次抗生素治疗的尿毒症，53%的女性担心不能完全排空膀胱，71%的女性担心患上尿毒症。研究人群的总体 UTI 平均值为 1.88 UTIs/年（95% CI；1.71-2.07）。女性患 UTI 的风险比男性高 43%（相对风险：1.43；95% CI：1.26-1.62）。在报告尿毒症症状时，女性与男性有显著差异，女性尿失禁（33% 对 21%）、下腹痛（30% 对 15%）、排尿不适或疼痛（41% 对 31%）、肾脏不适或疼痛（29% 对 13%）以及发烧（16% 对 29%）的情况更多。女性还使用了更多的保健品（36% 对 25%），喝了更多的水（66% 对 55%），并进行了家庭尿检（21% 对 13%）。结论这项横断面研究的结果强调了在报告尿毒症症状、患尿毒症时的行为以及与尿毒症有关的担忧方面的性别差异。未经治疗的泌尿系统症状可能会影响与健康相关的生活质量，因此，护士必须了解泌尿系统症状的性别差异，以识别任何尿毒症风险。对护理实践或研究的意义：我们的研究结果为有关女性 CIC 使用者患尿道炎时的症状和行为的稀缺证据增添了新的见解。这些知识有助于评估 CIC 使用者患尿道炎的风险。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

International Journal of Urological Nursing 医学-护理

CiteScore

0.80

自引率

20.00%

发文量

审稿时长

>12 weeks

期刊介绍： International Journal of Urological Nursing is an international peer-reviewed Journal for all nurses, non-specialist and specialist, who care for individuals with urological disorders. It is relevant for nurses working in a variety of settings: inpatient care, outpatient care, ambulatory care, community care, operating departments and specialist clinics. The Journal covers the whole spectrum of urological nursing skills and knowledge. It supports the publication of local issues of relevance to a wider international community to disseminate good practice. The International Journal of Urological Nursing is clinically focused, evidence-based and welcomes contributions in the following clinical and non-clinical areas: -General Urology- Continence care- Oncology- Andrology- Stoma care- Paediatric urology- Men’s health- Uro-gynaecology- Reconstructive surgery- Clinical audit- Clinical governance- Nurse-led services- Reflective analysis- Education- Management- Research- Leadership The Journal welcomes original research papers, practice development papers and literature reviews. It also invites shorter papers such as case reports, critical commentary, reflective analysis and reports of audit, as well as contributions to regular sections such as the media reviews section. The International Journal of Urological Nursing supports the development of academic writing within the specialty and particularly welcomes papers from young researchers or practitioners who are seeking to build a publication profile.