Prof Eamonn Rogers
Chair, EAU Patient Office
Incontinence is often described as a hidden disability, but it takes a real toll on patients’ quality of life and society as a whole.
The burden of incontinence affects every aspect of patients’ lives. Incontinence ties patients to accessible facilities and leads to higher rates of anxiety and depression, often defining their quality of life. Urinary incontinence has been linked to cardiac failure, chronic renal failure, diabetes, cognitive impairment, sleep apnoea and more. Furthermore, patients often bear a financial burden from managing their symptoms.
Socioeconomic and environmental impact
Beyond the burden incontinence has on patients, we are beginning to understand more about the impact of incontinence on society as a whole. A recent study by the European Association of Urology focused on the economic and environmental impact of incontinence in Europe.
With healthcare costs, productivity losses and waste disposal costs, they estimate incontinence costs Europe €69 billion annually, putting it roughly on par with the cost of cancer at €100 billion. The cost of incontinence is not exclusive to the economy; it additionally wreaks havoc on the environment. Billions of incontinence pads are disposed of and incinerated each year, making up 4.8% of all municipal waste.
Billions of incontinence pads are disposed
of and incinerated each year, making
up 4.8% of all municipal waste.
The future of incontinence in Europe
In the next 10 years, incontinence is set to grow rapidly in Europe. While the population is ageing, patients are living longer after treatments that result in incontinence and are also more empowered to demand tangible changes from their governments around continence care and accessibility. The cost of incontinence is set to rise by up to 20% by 2030, so Europe must move quickly to combat it.
However, there is room for optimism. Last year, the Urge to Act campaign brought together scientists, professionals, patients and industry, alongside Members of the European Parliament, to sign a manifesto demanding action on incontinence.
The manifesto calls for decisive policy changes to tangibly improve continence care in Europe and advocates for a systemic response to incontinence care, calling for equitable access to facilities and care, better patient education outreach and funding for the research of healthy and sustainable solutions.
