INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is significantly impaired among urinary incontinent women and the effectiveness of urinary incontinence (UI) treatment should be measured using an HRQoL instrument. METHODS: A prospective, observational study evaluating the HRQoL of 178 non-selected UI patients referred for routine treatment at the Helsinki University Central Hospital between the years 2004 and 2010. HRQoL was assessed using the generic 15D questionnaire on four occasions: before treatment, 6 and 18 months after treatment, and after a median follow-up of 5 years. The HRQoL of the patients was compared with that of an age-standardized Finnish female population. RESULTS: Compared with the general population, the baseline total HRQoL score of the patients was significantly impaired (p < 0.001). It was worse among the urge or mixed (UUI (±SUI)) incontinence patients than among the stress incontinence (SUI) patients (p = 0.035). During follow-up, HRQoL improved and the improvement was more substantial among the operatively than among the conservatively treated patients (p = 0.027). Statistically significant improvement was only seen in the SUI group (Δ + 0.021, 95 % CI 0.005-0.036), but clinically relevant improvement was also found in the operatively treated UUI (±SUI) group. The maximum benefit of treatment was reached between at 2 and 3 years. CONCLUSIONS: 15D is a sensitive tool for monitoring the change in HRQoL and could be implemented into clinical practice. Operative treatment of UI is effective when measured by improved HRQoL. Not only SUI patients, but also selected patients with an urgency component may benefit from surgery.
INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is significantly impaired among urinary incontinent women and the effectiveness of urinary incontinence (UI) treatment should be measured using an HRQoL instrument. METHODS: A prospective, observational study evaluating the HRQoL of 178 non-selected UI patients referred for routine treatment at the Helsinki University Central Hospital between the years 2004 and 2010. HRQoL was assessed using the generic 15D questionnaire on four occasions: before treatment, 6 and 18 months after treatment, and after a median follow-up of 5 years. The HRQoL of the patients was compared with that of an age-standardized Finnish female population. RESULTS: Compared with the general population, the baseline total HRQoL score of the patients was significantly impaired (p < 0.001). It was worse among the urge or mixed (UUI (±SUI)) incontinencepatients than among the stress incontinence (SUI) patients (p = 0.035). During follow-up, HRQoL improved and the improvement was more substantial among the operatively than among the conservatively treated patients (p = 0.027). Statistically significant improvement was only seen in the SUI group (Δ + 0.021, 95 % CI 0.005-0.036), but clinically relevant improvement was also found in the operatively treated UUI (±SUI) group. The maximum benefit of treatment was reached between at 2 and 3 years. CONCLUSIONS: 15D is a sensitive tool for monitoring the change in HRQoL and could be implemented into clinical practice. Operative treatment of UI is effective when measured by improved HRQoL. Not only SUI patients, but also selected patients with an urgency component may benefit from surgery.
Authors: Paul Abrams; Linda Cardozo; Magnus Fall; Derek Griffiths; Peter Rosier; Ulf Ulmsten; Philip van Kerrebroeck; Arne Victor; Alan Wein Journal: Neurourol Urodyn Date: 2002 Impact factor: 2.696
Authors: G Ghoniem; E Stanford; K Kenton; C Achtari; R Goldberg; T Mascarenhas; M Parekh; K Tamussino; S Tosson; G Lose; E Petri Journal: Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct Date: 2007-11-17