지역사회 중년여성의 요실금과 삶의 질 연구

Urinary Incontinence and Quality of Life among Middle-aged Women in a Community

Purpose : This study was designed to investigate the prevalence of urinary incontinence of middle-aged women and identify the quality of life. Methods : Data were collected from 158 women, aged over 45 up to 60 residing in Gwang-ju from June 23 to July 23, 2009. Subjects allowed to participate in this study. Research tools were consisted of the types and symptoms of incontinence by Song et al. and Sandvik et al. For measuring quality of life, King s Health Questionnaire(KHQ) being translated into Korean by Oh et al. was used. The data were analyzed by SPSS Win. 15.0 PC+ Windows program. Results : The prevalence of urinary incontinence was 47.5%(Stress U.I. 30.4%, Mixed U.I. 17.1%). There were 75 subjects who suffered urinary incontinence; a slight case was 64.0%, a moderate case 22.7% and a severe case 13.3%. Urinary incontinence was not associated with general characteristics. In normal group and incontinence group, incontinence was associated with BMI(normal group = 22.0, incontinence group=23.2, p < .001) and sex life period(normal group = 22.8years, incontinence group = 26.0years, p = .002). The scores of quality of life were statistically associated with the types and degrees of incontinences(normal group=66.9, incontinence group=137.8; Stress U.I. =112.6, Mixed U.I.=182.5, p = .001). Conclusions : In middle-aged women, it is important to educate appropriate method to reduce prevalence of incontinence. It is concluded that community-based systematic program for middle-aged women having urinary incontinence should be established in order to assure high quality of their life.