Managing urinary incontinence in adults with bronchiectasis

Urinary incontinence has a negative impact on quality of life and often remains untreated due to low levels of self-reporting. Urinary incontinence is seen in cystic fibrosis associated bronchiectasis but little data are available for non-cystic fibrosis associated bronchiectasis.

In 2007 a new non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis service for patients aged 18 years and over was started within the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. During the establishment of a new adult bronchiectasis service, patients were specifically asked about symptoms of incontinence, and if incontinence was identified then patients were referred for specialist continence assessment and management, in line with current good practice guidelines. The study relates only to those female patients who were referred to the continence service.

In this audit 116 patients attended the bronchiectasis service from 2009-2010; 76 were female, of these 55% had urinary incontinence, describing dramatic effects on quality of life. Prior to intervention the duration of symptoms of urinary incontinence for more than 5 years was 87.5%, with 40% of patients describing symptoms of more than 10 years duration without seeking medical attention. Following intervention from the nurse consultant for continence care, 80% of patients who were referred were discharged with an improvement in symptoms of urinary incontinence.

This audit highlights the importance of specifically asking about urinary incontinence when assessing patients with adult bronchiectasis.