Explicating the negative impact of obesity on the quality of life in older women with stress urinary incontinence

Objective. To study the negative impact of obesity on the quality of life in older women with stress urinary incontinence. Patients and methods. This cross-sectional study included 100 women aged 65 years and over who sought treatment for stress urinary incontinence at Ain Shams and Al-Azhar University teaching hospitals (Urogynecology and Internal Medicine Departments). Patients were classified by their body mass index [BMI], the severity of urinary incontinence according to the Incontinence Severity Index was assessed, as well as the results of the Incontinence Quality of Life questionnaire. Results. There was no statistically significant difference regarding the demographic data of participants between two groups. Mean age of women in group I was 66.3 (SD 1.2) years and in group II – 67.2 (SD 2.4) years. Mean (±SD) BMI in group I was 35.1 (4.6) and in group II – 23.2 (2.2). Women in group I suffered more from frequent episodes of incontinence, with more negative impact on the quality of life. Conclusion. Obesity affects the severity of stress urinary incontinence and reduces the quality of life in older women. Key words: obesity, stress urinary incontinence, older women