Abstract
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate sleep quality and quality of life in older women with urinary incontinence.
DESIGN: Cross-sectional.
SUBJECTS/SETTING: Women ages 65 to 84 years with reported urinary incontinence and were receiving care in the Gynecology and Obstetrics Polyclinic in Gynecology and Obstetrics Polyclinic, Medical Practice and Research Center, Ondokuz May[latin dotless i]s University, Samsun, Turkey.
METHODS: Data were collected over a 3-month period during one-on-one interviews using the investigator-developed Personal Information Form to capture demographic data, and with questionnaires including the Incontinence-Quality of Life Instrument (I-QOL), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Data were analyzed using nonparametric tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and Kruskal-Wallis variance analysis. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants.
RESULTS: We approached 210 individuals, of which 140 were consented, enrolled, and completed the study. The mean age of participants was 70.3 +/- 4.1 years. The mean sleep quality score measured with the PSQI was 9.6 +/- 6.0, suggesting poor sleep quality, which affected 89.3% of the sample. The quality-of-life mean total score measured with the I-QOL was 67.8 +/- 14.9, reflecting normal quality of life specific to urinary incontinence. However, quality of life was lower in the older age group, 75 to 84 years, who also reported at least one chronic condition, had not received treatment for urinary incontinence, and had irregular sleep patterns.
CONCLUSIONS: We found a strong correlation between sleep quality and quality of life in older females with urinary incontinence, raising awareness of the need for health care providers to inquire about sleep and quality of life and provide treatment options to ameliorate these negative health outcomes.