Prevalence of Depression and Sleep in Women with Voiding Complaints in Brazil

Objective: The purpose of the study is to investigate the association of depression, anxiety and excessive sleepiness in UI women and to assess the influence of these comorbid diseases on the severity of incontinence.

Methods: One hundred and twenty women with primary complaint of voiding problem participated in this prospective study at Brazil. All the participants completed a questionnaire which comprised of three different instruments. The instruments were Kings Health Questionnaire (KHQ) to assess impact of UI on QoL, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) to assess anxiety and depression and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) to measure daytime sleepiness. Logistic regression model was applied to predict the odds of developing severe UI among women having depression, anxiety and excessive sleepiness.

Results: Of the total, 70.8% had mild to moderate incontinence while 29.2% had severe incontinence. The quality of life (QoL) was greatly reduced in severe incontinent group. No difference in the mean age and health was observed between the groups. Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) was not associated with symptom severity, QoL and health, while depression and anxiety was significantly associated with reduced QoL and health and increased symptom severity. When combined with depression or anxiety, EDS leads to increased symptom severity in incontinent women.

Conclusion: Excessive sleepiness and depression but not anxiety is associated with severity of UI in women. This new association should be taken into consideration by the physicians while managing the patients.