Quality of Sleep and Associating Factors among the Elderly with Urinary Incontinence

Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of poor quality of sleep, and its associating factors among Thai elderly with urinary incontinence (UI), in Chiang Rai province. Material and Methods: Study samples from 419 individuals with UI, aged ≥60 years and living in Chiang Rai province were taken. Multi-stage random sampling was used to recruit study participants. Thai versions of the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (TICIQ-UI SF) and the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (TPSQI) were used as data collection instruments. Results: Overall, 84.2% of participants had poor quality of sleep (TPSQI >5); with the mean TPSQI score being 8.4±3.16. Approximately 21.5%, 69.2%, and 9.3% had severe, moderate, and mild UI, respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that being female (OR=2.77; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.47-5.24); having a moderate severity of UI (OR=3.63; 95% CI, 1.10-11.96); being a current smoker (OR=6.84; 95% CI, 2.09-22.33); monthly income of <5,000 Baht (<167 USD) (OR=4.27; 95% CI, 1.33-13.73); being a current alcohol consumer (OR=3.04; 95% CI, 1.47-6.28) and being depressed (OR=3.91; 95% CI, 1.44-10.56) were significantly associated with poor quality of sleep. Conclusion: The prevalence of poor quality of sleep among the elderly with UI was rather high. The combined effects of several risk factors caused the elderly with moderate UI to have a poor quality of sleep. Healthcare personnel should regularly conduct screening for quality of sleep, UI, and depression and provide sleep health education to the elderly with UI, especially the elderly with depression, smokers, and alcohol consumers.