Exploring the Link of Psychological Adaptation, Socio-Economic Status, and Symptom Types on Quality of Life in Community-Dwelling Older Women With Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms.

Abstract

Introduction/ObjectivesLower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are prevalent and represent prominent health issues among community-dwelling older people globally. This study aimed to examine the association among psychological adaptation, socio-economic status (SES), symptom types, and quality of life in community-dwelling older women with LUTS.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 150 older women residing in communities in central Thailand, who were recruited using purposive sampling criteria. Data collection was conducted through structured interviews and questionnaires, including the Personal Information Questionnaire, the Thai Geriatric Depression Scale-15, the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms, and the King's Health Questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed.ResultsParticipants presented with multiple urinary tract symptoms; filling symptoms were found in 99.3% of participants, followed by incontinence (70%), and voiding symptoms (30%). For psychosocial adaptations, 23.3% suggested mild-moderate depressive symptoms, and 2.7% were classified as having moderate-severe depressive symptoms. Regarding SES, the majority of participants had completed primary school (73.3%), earned an average monthly income of 500-1,000 baht (52.7%), and were unemployed (56.7%). For quality of life, the mean total quality of life score was 16.45 ± 11.32. Participants with more than one lower urinary tract symptom were 3.81 times more likely to report poor quality of life than those with only filling symptoms (OR: 3.81, 95% CI: 1.53-9.47, p = 0.004).ConclusionThe findings from this study provide essential insights for healthcare personnel, particularly geriatric nurse practitioners, about the impact of LUTS on the quality of life of community-dwelling older women. Implementing systematic screening for LUTS may facilitate timely intervention, potentially delaying symptom progression, mitigating complications, and thereby enhancing the quality of life among this population.