Prevalence and impacts of male urinary incontinence on quality of life, mental health, work limitation, and health care seeking in China, Taiwan, and South Korea (LUTS Asia): Results from a cross-sectional, population-based study.

PURPOSE: Male urinary incontinence (UI) is a global health issue associated with bothersome symptoms which affect daily life. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of male UI in China, Taiwan, and South Korea and to determine if UI is an independent risk factor affecting the health-related quality of life (HRQoL), mental health, work limitations, and healthcare seeking behavior. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A post-hoc analysis was conducted on the LUTS Asia database which was collated from a cross-sectional, population-based internet survey in China, Taiwan, and South Korea. Prevalence of male UI was assessed, and the effect on HRQoL, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) depression and anxiety scores, work performance, and healthcare seeking behaviors was determined using univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: A total of 4,076 male participants were surveyed. Prevalence of male UI was 17.3%. UI adversely affected the HRQoL in both physical and mental domains. Both multivariate and univariate analyses showed that male UI could be correlated with a negative effect on the HADS anxiety and depression scores. Multivariate analysis suggested that work difficulties were correlated to the presence of UI. Up to 28% of participants who reported urge UI only did not adopt any management measures. CONCLUSIONS: UI is common in men over 40 years and adversely impacts HRQoL. It is an independent risk factor for anxiety and depression and may cause significant work limitations. Despite these negative effects, many men still do not seek any intervention.

Impact of Female Stress Urinary Incontinence on Quality of Life, Mental Health, Work Limitation, and Healthcare Seeking in China, Taiwan, and South Korea (LUTS Asia): Results from a Cross-Sectional, Population-Based Study.

Background: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is common among adult women with negative effects on psychosocial well-being, mental health, and health-related quality of life. The purpose of the research is to determine if SUI in women is a factor implicated in changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in both physical and mental health domains and in work difficulties. Methods: Data of women 40 years or older from a cross-sectional, population-based, internet survey were examined post-hoc. The effect of SUI frequency on HRQoL (SF12 score), in physical and mental health domains, was assessed. In addition, multivariate and univariate analyses were used to show the influence of SUI on HADS (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) depression score and HADS anxiety score. The effects of demographic factors and physical ailments and SUI on work difficulties were similarly analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. Results: A total of 4208 women with mean age of 60 were included in the analysis. The more frequent SUI episodes were associated with a greater reduction of HRQoL in both physical and mental health domains. In addition, both multivariate and univariate analyses showed that SUI could be correlated with a negative effect on HADS anxiety score (OR 1.617, CI 1.335-1.958, p=0.000) and HADS depression score (OR 1.263, CI 1.044-1.527, p=0.016). Univariate analyses suggested that work difficulties were correlated with SUI. Available data revealed that many sufferers, including up to 40% of individuals with SUI frequency rating 1 (less than once a month) to 3 (a few times a week), failed to seek treatment. Conclusion: SUI, common in women ≥40 years of age, impairs quality of life in both physical and mental health domains. SUI is an independent risk factor for anxiety and depression and has been linked to significant work dysfunctions. Trial Registration: This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02618421 (Date of registration: December 1, 2015).

Impacts of nocturia on quality of life, mental health, work limitation, and health care seeking in China, Taiwan and South Korea (LUTS Asia): Results from a cross-sectional, population-based study.

BACKGROUND: While nocturia has been proposed to be related to various systemic diseases and even mortality, there has been little information of the impact of nocturia in other aspects of physical and mental well-being. We evaluated the impact of nocturia on quality of life (QoL), mental health, work limitation, and health-care seeking behavior. METHODS: An internet-based self-administered survey was distributed among individuals aged ≥40 years with the ability to use a computer and to read the local language. Survey questions included demographic details, International Continence Society symptom definitions and the international prostate symptom score. Impact on nocturia on health-related QoL physical and mental health domain, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) score and Work Limitations Questionnaire (WLQ) measures was evaluated. RESULTS: There were 8284 participants (women, 51%) of whom 34% were aged ≥60 years. Prevalence of nocturia ≥2 was 35% in men and 37% in women. Across both genders, QoL decreased with increasing frequency of nocturia. Besides nocturia, hypertension, presence of neurological disorder, lower urinary tract symptom measures and female gender were also associated with HADS anxiety and depression scores of ≥8. Nocturia significantly impacted work ability across WLQ measures. Though the utilization of prescription medications increased with the increase in frequency of nocturia, it was also noted that up to 30% of participants who reported nocturia frequency of ≥3 did not seek any treatment for their complaints. CONCLUSION: Nocturia significantly affects QoL, work productivity, and mental well-being. However, healthcare utilization remains low and warrants increased awareness and education in the patients, caregivers and physicians.