Comparison of Urinary Incontinence, Quality of Life, Fatigue, and Depression Levels of Women with Neurological Diseases

Background: Neurological diseases are an important public health problem. Individuals are exposed to problems such as urinary incontinence (UI), fatigue, due to neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) or cerebrovascular disease (CVD). Health professionals should plan care with a holistic approach in the care of individuals with neurological diseases. Possible complications should be considered.

Aim: The aim of this study is to compare the UI, quality of life, fatigue, and depression levels of women with neurological disease.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional and correlational study. The sample of the study consisted of 126 women who applied to the neurology clinic between August 1, 2019, and December 1, 2020. Personal information form, Bristol female lower urinary tract symptoms questionnaire (BFLUTS), incontinence quality of life scale, beck depression inventory, and fatigue severity scale were used as data collection tools. Chi-square, independent groups t-test, and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the data.

Results: Women who had previously been diagnosed with MS (42.9%) and CVD (57.1%) participated in the study. There was a statistically significant difference between MS or CVD groups in terms of the BFLUTS total (P = 0.008), filling symptom (P = 0.001), incontinence symptom (P < 0.001), and quality of life (P = 0.021) subdimensions scores.

Conclusion: As a result, it was determined that lower urinary symptoms of patients with CVD were more affected than patients with MS. In addition, it was shown that voiding symptoms, sexual function, quality of life, depression, and fatigue levels of patients with MS and CVD had similar.