Abstract:

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and quality of life in female patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) with and without exercise habits. Methods: Forty-two female patients with MS were enrolled in the study. The MS patients were divided into two groups as those with (n=20) and without exercise habits (n=22). The exercise habit was determined based on the presence of activities that lasted more than 20 minutes per day at least 3 days a week during the last 3 months. LUTS were evaluated with International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Questionnaire and quality of life was assessed with King Health Questionnaire (KHQ). Results: Women with MS with exercise habits had lower incontinence symptoms (p=0.009), the emotions (p=0.023) and the severity (p=0.010) subgroup scores of the KHQ than women with MS without exercise habits. Storage (p=0.265) and voiding (p=0.734) symptom scores, and the general health (p=0.462), the urinary problem (p=0.215), the role limitation (p=0.447), the physical limitation (p=0.207), the social limitation (p=0.287), the personal relationships (p=0.128) and the sleep-energy (p=0.478) subgroup scores of the KHQ were similar between the groups. Conclusion: It was found that women with MS who had exercise habit experienced less incontinence symptoms and some parameters of quality of life were better than women with MS and without exercise habit. These results showed that the exercise habit in female MS patients may contribute to the improvement of incontinence symptoms and quality of life. 

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