Hábitos alimentares e de vida e sua associação com os sintomas do trato urinário inferior em mulheres com incontinência urinária

Abstract

Introduction: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) can be classified as irritative, obstructive or post-voiding symptoms. Urinary incontinence (UI) is one of the most prevalent LUTS, impacting quality of life. Eating and lifestyle habits considered to be irritating to the bladder and possibly associated with LUTS may result in greater severity of UI. Objective: to analyze the association between the consumption of irritating foods and lifestyle habits with the severity of UI and the presence of irritative urinary symptoms in women with UI. Methodology: Cross-sectional study, with women over 18 years old, diagnosed with urge or mixed UI and evaluated by the Pelvic Physiotherapy service of the Maternity School Assis Chateaubriand (MEAC). Sociodemographic and reproductive data, eating and living habits, chief complaint, urinary frequency, LUTS and UI severity (Incontinence Severity Index - ISI) were collected. Data were analyzed using means and standard deviations, absolute and relative frequencies, chi-square and Student's T tests (statistical significance of 5%). Results: Sample composed of 297 women, with a mean age of 58.1 (±12.70) years. Regarding UI, 190 (64%) women had mixed UI; and 38% moderate severity. Regarding urinary symptoms, the most prevalent was urgency (94.6%). Regarding habits, only the use of cigarettes showed a significant association with greater severity of UI. Conclusion: There was an association between smoking and higher UI severity. However, we did not observe an association between food consumption and frequency and the severity of UI or the presence of LUTS in our sample.