CLINICAL EPIDEMIOLOGY OF THE URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS IN THE FEMALE POPULATION OF UKRAINE PART 1: DEMOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS

The purpose of the study: To identify the prevalence of various forms of urinary tract infection (UTI) in the population of Ukrainian women according to age. To determine the frequency of recurrent urinary tract infection in the female population, to determine the correlation of the form, duration and course of the disease, the frequency of relapses with the treatment and the nature of the medical care received. Material and methods. We designed, validated and implemented the web-based online questionnaire on prevalence, medical history and medical care of the urinary tract infections among 539 women (18-80 years old) in Ukraine. Results. A total of 339 (62.9%) women had symptoms of UTI. The prevalence of UTI in the 18-35 age group was 48.6%, that in the 36-55 age group 76.1 %, and that among women over 55 years old 75.5%. The growth trend in the number of UTI episodes, reported by the patients, was related to their age: older women generally suffered more UTI episodes during life compared to younger respondents. It was demonstrated that the main risk factors for the debut of UTI episode were the UTI history in the mother (40.2% of all patients), sexual activity (36.1%), childhood history of UTIs (23.9%), hypothermia (22.1%), bathing in the pool or pond (20.1%) and changing a sexual partner (18.9%). All other risk factors, including dietary disorders, overheating, gynecological visits, manipulations, abortions, childbirth and the puerperium, catheterization and the use of spermicides, did not play a significant role in the debut of a UTI episode among the interviewed patient population. We found a correlation between the main UTI risk factors and the type of disease course: sexual life played the main role in recurrent forms of disease (40.3% of patients with frequently recurrent UTIs) against 14.5% of patients with a single UTI episode where more significant factors included dietary disturbance (19.2%), hypothermia (29.5%) and bathing in ponds (20.9%). Conclusions. Frequently recurring course of UTI is inherent in 14.6% of the interviewed women and defines a 12% higher symptom score, reduction of quality of life by 26.8%, decrease of social activity by 19.4%, decline of physical activity by 20.4%, and an increase in deviations in family life and sexual activity by 25.4% and 7.9% respectively as compared to patients with sporadic UTIs. Patients with a recurrent UTI report, in general, 31.6% greater restrictions on visiting public places, 31% greater manifestations of social isolation and 42.2% worse relationships with a partner or spouse.