Leaking all the time and for no obvious reason are clinical markers of incontinence severity: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction:

Leaking for no obvious reason and leaking all the time are unusual urinary incontinence patterns. They are often associated to most severe incontinence cases. However, its real impact in severity and impact on quality of life has not been extensively studied

Objective:

To determine the influence on severity and impact on quality of life of these two types of urinary leakage in patients with stress, urgency or mixed UI based on ICIQ-UI questionnaire.

Study design:

We performed a retrospective analysis of the ICIQ-UI questionnaire in 560 non-neurogenic patients complaining of UI. Patients were classified according to their UI pattern into stress, urgency or mixed UI. Frequency (Q1: 0-5), amount (Q2: 0-6), impact in quality of life (Q3: 0-10) as well as total ICIQ-UI scores were compared between patients who claimed to also have leakage for no obvious reason (LforNOR) or all the time (LAT) and those who did not. UI patterns were stratified according to its severity.

Results:

203 males and 357 females were studied. Scores for frequency, amount, impact on quality of life and total ICIQ-UI scores were significantly higher for women who LAT (4.7 vs 3.3, 5.4 vs 3.4, 9.3 vs 6.8 and 19.4 vs 13.4 respectively, all with p<0.001) or LforNOR (4.1 vs 3.4, 4.5 vs 3.5, 8.6 vs 6.7 and 17.1 vs 13.6, all with p<0.001). In men, mean Q1, Q2, Q3 and total ICIQ-UI scores were also higher in those with LAT (4.6 vs 2.9, 5 vs 2.8, 9.1 vs 5.3 and 18.7 vs 11 respectively, all with p<0.001) and LforNOR (3.9 vs 2.8, 4.2 vs 2.7, 7.6 vs 5.2 and 15.6 vs 10.7 all with p<0.001). ICIQ-UI scores were also significantly higher when controlling for UI pattern with or without LforNOR or LAT. Stratification of incontinence severity by UI patterns with or without these two types of leakage had clinical consistency as most patients with LforNOR and LAT had higher ICIQ-UI scores.

Conclusion:

Leaking for no obvious reason and leaking all the time are clinical markers of incontinence severity.