Abstract
Urinary tract pathology may be no more common in patients with arthritis than among the general population, but its impact may be enhanced by disability. In this survey of 247 patients, as many as 38% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 47% of patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and even 34% of patients with soft tissue rheumatism (STR) reported difficulty controlling their urine, confirming that incontinence is a widespread and often under-reported problem. More detailed enquiry in a sample of 90 patients with OA or RA did not suggest specific urinary tract pathology related to the underlying arthritis. Those who reported problems with urinary control were more disabled, and took longer to get to the toilet in their own environment than those without control problems. Twenty-seven per cent of patients felt that their problems would be solved by provision of a downstairs toilet. Timing of tasks performed by patients within their home is suggested as a method for assessing functional ability which encompasses both patient disability and environmental factors.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Boye E., Morse M., Huttner I., Erlanger B. F., MacKinnon K. J., Klassen J. Immune complex-mediated interstitial cystitis as a major manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus. Clin Immunol Immunopathol. 1979 May;13(1):67–76. doi: 10.1016/0090-1229(79)90021-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kirwan J. R., Reeback J. S. Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire modified to assess disability in British patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Br J Rheumatol. 1986 May;25(2):206–209. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/25.2.206. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Mitteness L. S. Knowledge and beliefs about urinary incontinence in adulthood and old age. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1990 Mar;38(3):374–378. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1990.tb03525.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Norton P. A., MacDonald L. D., Sedgwick P. M., Stanton S. L. Distress and delay associated with urinary incontinence, frequency, and urgency in women. BMJ. 1988 Nov 5;297(6657):1187–1189. doi: 10.1136/bmj.297.6657.1187. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Ouslander J. G., Morishita L., Blaustein J., Orzeck S., Dunn S., Sayre J. Clinical, functional, and psychosocial characteristics of an incontinent nursing home population. J Gerontol. 1987 Nov;42(6):631–637. doi: 10.1093/geronj/42.6.631. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Thomas T. M., Plymat K. R., Blannin J., Meade T. W. Prevalence of urinary incontinence. Br Med J. 1980 Nov 8;281(6250):1243–1245. doi: 10.1136/bmj.281.6250.1243. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]