Prevalence of incontinence and incontinence-specific quality of life impairment in women with cystic fibrosis.

AIMS Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the commonest autosomal recessive disorder in Caucasians. With advancing medical technology, the life expectancy has more than double in the last twenty years. This has led to new unforeseen health problems like urinary incontinence. The aim was to establish the prevalence, symptomatic typology, and quality of life impact of incontinence in a population of women with CF. METHODS Women were recruited from two London tertiary referral centres for CF. They were asked to fill in a self- completed anonymous King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ) for assessment of symptoms and quality of life Impairment. Their age was also noted. Descriptive statistics are reported. Correlation was assessed using Pearson's Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (r). RESULTS One hundred and forty six women were approached for enrolment. 98(67%) consented to take part in study. Their mean age was 28. Seventy three (74%) reported symptoms of urinary incontinence, which in all cases was perceived as stress urinary incontinence. Of these 44(60%) reported mild stress incontinence, 16(22%) moderate stress incontinence and 13(18%) severe stress incontinence. Continent and incontinent women perceived their general health to be similarly poor (mean score 40 vs 44 points). Strong positive correiations were found between age and stress urinary incontinence severity (r=0.742; P <0.001) and between age and total King's Health Questionnaire score (r=0.828; P <0.001). CONCLUSIONS Women with CF have a higher prevalence of stress urinary incontinence than the general population, with both the prevalence and associated quality of life impairment increasing with age.