The Effects of Severity of Urine Leakage on Quality of Life in Hispanic, White, and Black Men and Women: The Boston Community Health Survey

Abstract

Objective The effect of urine leakage on quality of life (QOL) is related to severity of leakage. This study investigates gender and race/ethnic differences in this relationship. Methods An epidemiologic survey was conducted with a population-based random sample of 3,202 women and 2,301 men (1,767 Black, 1,877 Hispanic, 1,859 White) aged 30–79 years in Boston MA. Severity of leakage was based on frequency and amount by the Sandvik Severity Scale. QOL was measured with physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) component summaries of Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form-12 (SF-12). Covariates included race/ethnicity, age, socioeconomic status, urinary incontinence risk factors, and comorbidities. Analysis included multivariate linear regression modeling by gender. Results 30% of women and 18% of men reported urine leakage, most was mild or moderate. Women (5.1%) were more likely than men (0.9%) to report severe leakage. In multivariate analysis, as severity of leakage increased, both components of QOL declined, with decreases in scores of 7–8 points for men (p≤0.001 for each) and 4–6 points (p<0.05 and p=0.001 respectively) for women. Severe leakage was associated with a greater decline in QOL than was observed for most other co-morbidities considered. The impact of urine leakage on QOL was similar among racial and ethnic groups. Conclusions Urine leakage impairs QOL for both men and women, with no evidence of different effects by racial/ethnic group. Leakage has clinically significant impacts on physical health related QOL for men and on mental health QOL for both men and women.

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