BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL PROFILE AND THE IMPACT OF URINARY INCONTINENCE ON WOMEN'S QUALITY OF LIFE

To assess the biopsychosocial profile and the impact of urinary incontinence on women's quality of life. Methods: A blind cross-sectional clinical study was conducted, involving 31 women with urinary incontinence and a mean age of 51.5 +/- 13.9 years. Sociodemographic data and questionnaire responses were collected, including the King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ), Incontinence Severity Index (ISI-Q), and the Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI). Statistical analysis included the KolmogorovSmirnov normality test (one-sided p <= 0.001) and Pearson correlation. Results: Sociodemographic data revealed a prevalence of stress urinary incontinence (n=18), followed by mixed urinary incontinence (n=11) and urgency urinary incontinence (n=2). King's Health Questionnaire data showed significant values with moderate correlation in the domains of function limitations and severity measures (r=0.616); physical limitations and social limitations (r=0.604); physical limitations and personal relationships (r=0.504); physical limitations and the symptom severity scale (r=0.538). Incontinence Severity Index scores indicated 9 women with mild severity, 15 with moderate severity, 4 with severe, and 3 with very severe cases. Concerning the impact of urinary symptoms mediated by the Urogenital Distress Inventory related to urinary urgency, urge incontinence, stress incontinence, and/or emptying symptoms, the average value was 26.7 +/- 17.1. Conclusion: Women with urinary incontinence exhibit various changes affecting their physical, functional, psychological, and social wellbeing, negatively impacting their quality of life.