Determinants of Quality of Life in Patients With Urinary Incontinence: An Assessment Using the Incontinence Quality of Life (I-QOL) Scale

Background Urinary incontinence is a significant health problem with physical, social, economic, and psychological consequences for patients and their quality of life. The aim of our study is to determine the impact of urinary incontinence on the quality of life and to identify its determinants in patients with this condition. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study was carried out in the diagnostic center of Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) Hassan II in Fez, Morocco, between June and September 2019. We used the Moroccan Arabic dialect version of the "I-QoL" (incontinence quality of life) questionnaire to assess the quality of life in patients suffering from UI. Results Two hundred and seventy-eight patients with urinary incontinence participated in the study. Seventy-eight percent were women, and 21.2% were men. Three-quarters (70.9%) of participants were over 50 years old. The scores for the different scales ranged from 39.05 to 54.02. "The Social Embarrassment" scale obtained the lowest score (39.05). The "Psychosocial Impact" scale had a mean score of 54.02. The total I-QoL score was 46.08 ± 24.80. Factors significantly associated with a better quality of life-related to UI (high total I-QoL score) were lighter UI: β = 11.211; 95% CI: 1.748; 20.674. Daily frequency of urination between 1 to 4 times per day: β = 8.062; 95% CI: 1.471; 14.653. Not needing to use protection: β = 9.466; 95% CI: 4.987; 13.946 or changing underwear frequently: β = 24.871; 95% CI: 19.975; 29.767. Factors significantly associated with a lower quality of life (low total I-QoL score) were rural residents (β = -8.094; 95% CI: -13.043; -3.145) after adjusting for all variables. Conclusion Due to Morocco's cultural diversity, which is primarily rooted in modesty, the impact of urinary incontinence on quality of life is often underestimated. This highlights the need to incorporate this aspect into treatment follow-up and guidance.