The prevalence of urinary incontinence in obese women and its effect on quality of life

The study was conducted in an analytical and cross-sectional type in order to investigate the incidence of urinary incontinence in obese women and its effect on quality of life. The sample of the study consisted of 135 obese women who applied to the gynecology and obesity outpatient clinic in a Training and Research Hospital between July and December 2019. In order to determine the participants height and weight were measured and BMI were calculated and BMI of 30 kg / m2 and above were accepted. Sociodemographic question form, I-QOL and ICIQ-SF scale were used as in the study. Mann Whitney U, Kruskal Wallis, Bonferroni corrected post-hoc test, Chi-Square and Fisher Exact tests were used to analyze the data. The obese women participating in the study was evaluated their average BMI was 37.34 ± 4.85. It was found that %88.1 of obese women in the study had urinary incontinence. It was determined that the I-QQL scale score was 63 (min; max: 25; 108) in women with urinary incontinence and were found to lower quality of life. ICIQ-SF scale scores were evaluated, it was found that urinary incontinence was higher than the disturbing level according to the scale score. Significant differences were obtained between the quality of life scale score and marital status, constipation, the number of urination at night, when coughing or sneezing, until going to the toilet, when lifting heavy and during sexual intercourse, and the quality of life scores were found to be lower. In the study, it was concluded that most of the obese women have urinary incontinence problems and this situation negatively affects their quality of life. In line with these results, the public should be informed about the relationship between urinary incontinence and obesity, consultancy should be provided.