Abstract
Background: Incontinence is common and more prevalent in respiratory disease. Despite this, the effect of incontinence on quality of life in respiratory patients is unknown.
Methods: We conducted a case controlled questionnaire study. We sent the International Consultation on Incontinence Modular Questionnaire (ICIQ), the Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ), the EuroQol 5D (utility) and the MRC questionnaire to 150 patients with COPD, 150 patients with bronchiectasis and 150 controls (orthopaedic surgical patients). The groups were age and gender matched. Mann-Whitney test was used to determine effects of gender and disease.
Results: 164 (81 male) patients and 53 (22 male) controls replied. Overall, females (68%) had more incontinence than males (41%). Median (IQR) values for ICIQ were significantly (p<0.05) higher for female patients (4 (0-7.5)) but not for male patients (0 (0-4)) compared to controls (3 (0-5.5), 0 (0-3.7) respectively). However, male, but not female, patients with incontinence had a significantly (p=0.01) lower utility score, despite no difference in MRC (table).
Effect of incontinence on quality of life
Conclusion: Incontinence is more common in females but males with incontinence had more impaired overall health related quality of life.
- © 2011 ERS
