[Lower urinary tract symptoms among women in the Russian Federation: data from an online survey]

To estimate the prevalence and severity of lower urinary tract symptoms in the female population using a LUTS-specific questionnaire.

The study analyzed the prevalence of LUTS in the population of women residing in the Russian Federation. Information about voiding disorders in women, which was announced on federal television health-related programs, was posted on the website of the medical portal zdorovieinfo.ru. All questionnaires were filled in by the patients anonymously. The questionnaire was prepared by the editors of the website. We analyzed the survey results.

After the TV announcement, the survey website was visited by more than 15,000 people. Of them, 2,600 people filled the questionnaire (17% of the number of visitors). The findings of the survey suitable for the analysis were obtained from 2419 women (93.07%) and 181 men (6.93%). The mean age of female participants was 55 years old.

The study had some limitations and was not truly epidemiological, as it involved only those women who had information and technical access to the Internet portal and questionnaires. Despite this, the findings suggest the high prevalence of LUTS among women in our country.