PREVALENCE AND SEVERITY OF URINARY-INCONTINENCE IN AMBULATORY ADULTS - AN UPRNET STUDY

Background. Although urinary incontinence (UI) is a common and costly problem, its prevalence and severity in ambulatory patients is not wel l established. The main objectives of this study were to define the pr evalence and severity of urinary incontinence in adult men and women w ho came to a primary care office for health care, to determine if thes e patients had ever told a health care provider about this problem, an d to determine if they would be interested in treatment if it were ava ilable and effective. Methods. Men and women aged 20 years and over wh o came to family physicians' offices seeking health care for any reaso n during an 11-week period were the subjects of a survey by an anonymo us questionnaire. Five family practice offices in UPRNet (the Upper Pe ninsula Research Network), a research network in Michigan, participate d. We defined ''current urinary incontinence'' as any degree of incont inence in the past 12 months. Results. Of the 2830 study participants, 33% had current urinary incontinence (95% confidence interval [CI] 31 % to 35%). Incontinence was experienced by 11% of the men and 43% of t he women. Urinary incontinence constituting a social or hygienic probl em was reported by 5% of the men and 23% of the women (17% overall). O f those with current UI, 72% had not told a health care provider. Of t he patients who had not told a physician, 37% said they would seek car e if they knew tests and effective treatment were available. Conclusio n. Urinary incontinence is a common problem among those seen in primar y care settings, and its presence is often not known to the health car e provider.