E-Posters-10131

10131_Erekson

Pdf Summary

This study aimed to determine how often women report urinary incontinence (UI) symptoms compared to how often they have an outpatient visit for UI. The researchers utilized data from the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) and Medicare claims data to analyze healthcare utilization in a cohort of women. <br /><br />Among the 18,576 women included in the study who reported current UI, only 15.9% had at least one outpatient visit for UI, while 84% had no visit for UI. The severity of UI symptoms varied, with 45.5% classified as severe, 33.4% as moderate, and 13.9% as slight. The types of UI reported were 20.6% stress, 37.8% urgency, and 32.1% mixed. <br /><br />Women with outpatient visits for UI were more likely to report increased symptom severity compared to those without visits. They were also more likely to have mixed UI. Interestingly, over half of the women who had an outpatient visit for UI only had one visit with a diagnosis code for UI over a two-year period. <br /><br />These findings highlight the underutilization of healthcare services for UI among women, as the majority never seek outpatient care for their symptoms. This suggests a lack of awareness or discussion about management options for UI. Understanding the determinants of care-seeking for UI can help target and inform women who do not discuss their symptoms with healthcare providers. <br /><br />In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into healthcare utilization for UI in older women. By leveraging a well-characterized cohort and claims data, the researchers shed light on the underuse of outpatient services for UI and the factors associated with seeking care. These findings emphasize the need for improved education and awareness about UI management options for women.

Keywords

women

urinary incontinence

outpatient visit

healthcare utilization

Nurses' Health Study

Medicare claims data

symptom severity

types of UI

underutilization of healthcare services

care-seeking for UI