The Relationship between lower back pain and urinary incontinence

Abstract

Introduction Low back pain (LBP) is the main reason for disability in the world (1) and is more prominent in women (2). Furthermore, females have 2-3 times higher odds to suffer from urinary incontinence (UI) (3). It has been noticed that women who have LBP are more likely to suffer from stress UI (4). Additionally, the increase of LBP level results in a higher risk of urgency UI (5). There is no research done on the correlation between LBP and UI in Lithuania. Aim To determine the relationship between lower back pain and urinary incontinence in adults with LBP. Methods The prospective study was performed at the Department of Rehabilitation in the Hospital of LUHS Kauno klinikos in the period of 2020.07.01- 2021.02.01. The study was approved by the Bioethics centre of the LUHS (BEC-MF-410). The participants were patients suffering from LBP. Patients who had urinary tract infections were excluded. The ICIQ-UI-SF and anamnestic questionnaires were given to the participants. A higher ICIQ score indicated greater severity of UI symptoms. UI was considered to be associated with LBP when the onset of UI matched the occurrence of LBP or developed later. Statistical calculations were performed using SPSS 23.0 software. Data significance was evaluated using the Mann-Whitney U test and the Student’s T-test. A p-value of <0.05 was stated as statistically significant. Results 36 patients who reported LBP were included in the study. 32 of them were female (88.9 %) and 4 male (11.1 %). The mean age of interviewee was 55.72 years (SD= 15.35). 27 respondents (75 %) did not report UI, 3 (8.3 %) patients reported that UI occurred before the LBP, 6 (16.7 %) patients reported the onset of UI matched the occurrence of LBP or developed later. All reports of UI (n=9) were given by female patients. 4 of them had stress UI, 4 – urgency UI and 1 reported mixed UI. 5 (55.55%) respondents consulted a doctor (3 – family physician, [...].