Quality of life following bladder training in older women with urinary incontinence

This study investigated the changes in quality of life following a randomized controlled 6-week trial of bladder training in 123 older women with urinary incontinence. Both clinical (diary, pad test) and quality of life measures (Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ), Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D)) and visual analog scales on symptom burden were obtained at baseline, 6 weeks and 6 months following treatment. All subscales and the composite scale of the IIQ and the visual analog scales were significantly improved following bladder training, with effects maintained 6 months later. No changes were observed in CES-D scores. Women with genuine stress incontinence and those with detrusor instability with or without concomitant stress incontinence had similar improvements. We conclude that bladder training is effective in improving the quality of life of incontinent women regardless of urodynamic diagnosis.