TY - JOUR
T1 - Hap-pee
T2 - A Danish National Study of Challenges Related to Urinating When Away from Home in Women with Neuromuscular Diseases, Impact on Activity and Participation and Prevalence of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms
AU - Werlauff, Ulla
AU - Handberg, Charlotte
AU - Kristensen, Bente
AU - Glerup, Sarah
AU - Pharao, Antoniett Vebel
AU - Strøm, Jeanette
AU - Jensen, Bente Thoft
PY - 2024/7/2
Y1 - 2024/7/2
N2 - Background: Little is known about the challenges faced by women with a neuromuscular disease (NMD) when having to go to the toilet in other places than home; a topic that is highly important for participation and bladder health. Objective: The aim was to investigate whether women with NMD have problems in going to the toilet when not at home, the problems' impact on their social activities, education, and working life, which strategies they use to manage the problems, and the prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Methods: A national survey containing questions on type of NMD, mobility, impacts on social activities, education, working life, and bladder health was developed by women with NMD and researchers. LUTS were assessed by the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Modules (ICIQ-FLUTS). Female patients≥12 years (n=1617) registered at the Danish National Rehabilitation Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases were invited. Results: 692 women (43%) accepted the invitation; 21% were non-ambulant. 25% of respondents avoided going to the toilet when not at home. One third of respondents experienced that problems in going to the toilet impacted their social life. 43% of respondents refrained from drinking to avoid voiding when not at home, 61% had a low frequency of urinating, 17% had experienced urinary tract infections, and 35% had experienced urine incontinence. Problems were seldom discussed with professionals, only 5% of participants had been referred to neuro-urological evaluation. Conclusion: The results highlight the difficulties in urinating faced by women with NMD when not at home and how these difficulties impact functioning, participation, and bladder health. The study illustrates a lack of awareness of the problems in the neuro-urological clinic. It is necessary to address this in clinical practice to provide supportive treatment and solutions that will enable participation for women with NMD.
AB - Background: Little is known about the challenges faced by women with a neuromuscular disease (NMD) when having to go to the toilet in other places than home; a topic that is highly important for participation and bladder health. Objective: The aim was to investigate whether women with NMD have problems in going to the toilet when not at home, the problems' impact on their social activities, education, and working life, which strategies they use to manage the problems, and the prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Methods: A national survey containing questions on type of NMD, mobility, impacts on social activities, education, working life, and bladder health was developed by women with NMD and researchers. LUTS were assessed by the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Modules (ICIQ-FLUTS). Female patients≥12 years (n=1617) registered at the Danish National Rehabilitation Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases were invited. Results: 692 women (43%) accepted the invitation; 21% were non-ambulant. 25% of respondents avoided going to the toilet when not at home. One third of respondents experienced that problems in going to the toilet impacted their social life. 43% of respondents refrained from drinking to avoid voiding when not at home, 61% had a low frequency of urinating, 17% had experienced urinary tract infections, and 35% had experienced urine incontinence. Problems were seldom discussed with professionals, only 5% of participants had been referred to neuro-urological evaluation. Conclusion: The results highlight the difficulties in urinating faced by women with NMD when not at home and how these difficulties impact functioning, participation, and bladder health. The study illustrates a lack of awareness of the problems in the neuro-urological clinic. It is necessary to address this in clinical practice to provide supportive treatment and solutions that will enable participation for women with NMD.
KW - Activities of Daily Living
KW - Adolescent
KW - Adult
KW - Aged
KW - Denmark/epidemiology
KW - Female
KW - Humans
KW - Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms/epidemiology
KW - Middle Aged
KW - Neuromuscular Diseases/epidemiology
KW - Prevalence
KW - Quality of Life
KW - Surveys and Questionnaires
KW - Urination
KW - Young Adult
KW - participation
KW - Neuromuscular diseases
KW - rehabilitation
KW - women's health
KW - urinary tract infection
KW - toilet facilities
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85198001169&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3233/JND-230241
DO - 10.3233/JND-230241
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 38820020
SN - 2214-3599
VL - 11
SP - 829
EP - 838
JO - Journal of Neuromuscular Diseases
JF - Journal of Neuromuscular Diseases
IS - 4
ER -