Urinary incontinence (UI) is defined as loss of bladder control and is characterized by the complaint of any involuntary leakage of urine UI is an important individual and social problem, in that it is associated with worse health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Although UI is not a life-threatening condition, it is common and can have numerous negative psychological, social, and economical effects. Women with UI in the general population have higher levels of depression, anxiety and stress, poor sleep quality and significantly lower HRQL Additionally, long term UI may result in absence from work, increased healthcare costs, social isolation and physical inactivity which is common from the early stages of the COPD due to dyspnea. Furthermore, inactivity is associated with risk of hospital admissions and is a strong predictor for mortality. The combination of UI and COPD may therefore result in a double risk factor in terms of exercise avoidance and the subsequent negative consequences of inactivity.
As it could be concluded that urinary incontinence is a trouble problem that can change the life of COPD patients and therapy attempts to prevent it or control it will be appreciated, taking in consideration that all people nowadays prefer to choose the most safe method of their conditions.
