Secondary-care treatment patterns in the UK for women with urinary incontinence

To describe the treatment trends for women with urinary incontinence (UI) after their referral from primary to secondary care, as despite the high prevalence of UI within the female population, relatively few women actively seek treatment for their UI and fewer reach secondary care.

We retrospectively reviewed the notes of patients attending in two randomly selected months in five hospital sites in the UK. Records were identified through outpatient clinic lists, surgery lists, nursing and physiotherapy lists. Data were collated and analysed for trends.

In all, 412 women (mean age 54.6 years, SD 12.6) covering 1406 visits to secondary care were covered by the study. Most women had a symptomatic diagnosis of mixed UI and mild to moderate UI, as defined by their physician. Most women had conservative therapies by either continence nurses or physiotherapists, regardless of the severity of their condition; 73% had cystometry and 39% were recommended for surgical intervention.

Women largely undergo similar procedures in secondary care. Most present with mixed UI. The perceived severity of disease did not preclude a trial of conservative therapies.