Urinary Incontinence in Obese Women: A Cross Sectional Case Finding Study

Objective: The goal of this study is to evaluate the impact of obesity on stress urinary incontinence symptoms and quality of life among Egyptian women. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Ain Shams Maternity teaching hospital (Urogynecology Department).
Patients and methods: 100 women consented to participate in this study. Clinical details were noted and urodynamic studies were carried out. Body mass index [BMI] was defined as normal (<25 kg/m2), overweight (25-29 kg/m2) and obese (≥30 kg/m2). Intervention: patients with urodynamic stress incontinence who were admitted through Urogynecology clinic were scheduled for incontinence severity index and the Incontinence quality of life Questionnaire.
Results: Specifically, obese women experienced more incontinence episodes, reported higher symptom distress, had greater symptom specific impact on quality of life. The distribution of categories of severity (slight, moderate and severe) in the two groups was shown in a tabular form. Slight symptoms were predominant in group II while moderate symptoms were more common in group I, but severe symptoms were similarly distributed in the two groups.
Conclusion: Obese women scheduled for surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence showed more symptoms and less quality of life than normal weight women.