DOI: 10.47582/jompac.1996708 ISSN: 2717-7505

Urinary incontinence in Turkish women: associated factors and impact on quality of life in a hospital-based case–control study

Mustafa Behram, Emrullah Akay
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Aims: This study aimed to identify factors associated with urinary incontinence (UI) in Turkish women and to evaluate its impact on quality of life using the King’s Health Questionnaire (KHQ). Methods: This hospital-based case–control study included 546 women with UI and 546 women without UI, all aged 18 years or older. Participants completed a questionnaire covering demographic, obstetric, and lifestyle factors, as well as the KHQ. Results: The UI group had a significantly higher mean age, as well as increased gravidity and parity, macrosomic birth (≥4,000 g), chronic pelvic pain, hypothyroidism, recurrent urinary tract infections, and tobacco and coffee consumption. Conversely, hyperthyroidism was more prevalent in the non-UI group. The proportions of women with a history of vaginal delivery or cesarean section were similar between groups, whereas the numbers of vaginal births and cesarean sections were significantly higher among women with UI. KHQ scores were markedly elevated in participants with UI, particularly in domains related to daily function and social limitations, indicating a substantial negative impact on quality of life.Conclusion: UI is a significant public health issue that negatively affects quality of life among Turkish women. In multivariable analysis, advanced age, higher gravidity, macrosomic birth history, chronic pelvic pain, hypothyroidism, recurrent urinary tract infections, and tobacco use were independently associated with UI, whereas hyperthyroidism and family history of UI showed inverse associations. Our findings also demonstrated that UI substantially impairs social functioning, physical activities, and emotional well-being, as reflected by the KHQ subscale scores.

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