Science Blog -- Bonnie Blair and Leading Advocacy Groups Unite to Help Break Down Barriers With First Stress Urinary Incontinence Awareness Week

Bonnie Blair and Leading Advocacy Groups Unite to Help Break Down Barriers With First Stress Urinary Incontinence Awareness Week

6/8/2004

From: Elizabeth Baxter of Euro RSCG Life NRP, 212-845-4212

WASHINGTON, June 8 -- Three of the country's leading advocacy groups for urinary incontinence education have joined forces with speed skating champion Bonnie Blair to inaugurate the first Stress Urinary Incontinence Awareness Week, June 7 to 13. Sponsored by the American Foundation for Urologic Disease (AFUD), the National Association For Continence (NAFC), and the Simon Foundation for Continence, in partnership with Eli Lilly and Company and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. the coast-to-coast initiative, "Millions of Women. One Secret. Let's Talk!" aims to raise awareness of this common, yet underreported and stigmatized condition and to encourage women to discuss their symptoms with their healthcare professional.

The initiative was officially launched on June 8th at the National Press Club in Washington, where Walter Faggett, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Washington, D.C. Department of Health, joined a leading panel of experts to educate the public about stress urinary incontinence (SUI), the most prevalent form of incontinence in women (see notes: 1,2). The first stress urinary incontinence public service announcement campaign was unveiled, featuring spokeswoman and patient Bonnie Blair. The panel included:

-- Bonnie Blair, Speed Skating Champion, one of the most decorated women athletes in U.S. history

-- Vivian W. Pinn, M.D., Associate Director for Research on Women's Health; Director, Office of Research on Women's Health, National Institutes of Health (NIH)

-- Victor Nitti, M.D., Associate Professor and Vice Chairman, Department of Urology, New York University School of Medicine, representing the American Foundation for Urologic Disease, Inc.

-- Nancy Muller, Executive Director of the National Association For Continence

-- Cheryle Gartley, Founder and President of the Simon Foundation for Continence

"Stress urinary incontinence affects the lives of millions of women in the United States, and I'm learning that many of them are coping with it silently without professional help or diagnosis," said Dr. Faggett. "I am proud to have the District involved in this public health initiative to raise awareness of SUI, encourage women to seek help, and dispel the common misconceptions and stigma associated with this condition."

Stress urinary incontinence is the accidental leakage of urine due to physical activities such as sneezing, coughing, laughing, lifting or exercising. It is different from overactive bladder, where there is a sense of an urgent need to void. It affects women of all ages, yet many do not seek help. Urinary incontinence remains an underreported and embarrassing condition, affecting people across many countries and cultures. "Millions of women have this secret in common without realizing it and I was one of them," said Ms. Blair. "I don't want other women to feel ashamed of this condition. I want women suffering with SUI to know that they do not have to do so in silence, that the best thing they can do is arm themselves with the facts and talk about it with their healthcare professional."

"The AFUD, NAFC and Simon Foundation are the nation's leading groups advocating education for patients with incontinence," said Dr. Pinn. "I am pleased to see these organizations come together to support such an important health issue. There is a need for dialogue between healthcare professionals and their patients and this initiative is a great step in the right direction."

Stress Urinary Incontinence Awareness Week is launching across the country with the proclamation signatures of the Mayors of Boston, Detroit, Houston, Miami, San Francisco and Washington, DC.

This first Stress Urinary Incontinence Awareness Week is being conducted by The American Foundation for Urologic Disease, The National Association For Continence, and the Simon Foundation for Continence in partnership with Eli Lilly and Company and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

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About Stress Urinary Incontinence

Stress urinary incontinence, with nearly twice the prevalence as urge incontinence, is the most common form of urinary incontinence among women. In the U.S. alone, it affects nearly 15 million adult women (see notes: 3,4,5). Although common, stress urinary incontinence is a medical condition that is not normal at any age, but unfortunately, many women do not seek treatment because they are embarrassed, fear surgery, or believe it is a normal part of aging and that nothing can be done about it. Primary causes of stress urinary incontinence are nerve damage, muscle damage or weakness, and damage to the support of the bladder and urethra. Risk factors include childbirth, chronic coughing, obesity, and constipation.

The American Foundation for Urologic Disease

The AFUD is a charitable organization established to raise funds for research, lay education and patient advocacy for the prevention, detection, management and cure of urologic diseases. The foundation is located in Linthicum, MD, in the new, state-of- the-art headquarters building of the American Urologic Association (AUA).

AFUD funds leading-edge research conducted by some of the brightest researchers in the field and mentored by urologic investigators with outstanding research programs at various educational institutions throughout the U.S. and Canada. The foundation also provides patient education programs and information to health professionals, patients, and caregivers in the areas of bladder health, kidney health, pediatric urology, prostate health, reproductive health and sexual function. For more information about AFUD, please call 800-242-2381 or visit http://www.afud.org.

The National Association For Continence

The NAFC, headquartered in Charleston, SC, is the world's largest and most prolific consumer education and advocacy organization dedicated to helping people who struggle with incontinence and related voiding dysfunctions. Its mission is focused on public education and awareness, collaboration to disseminate information, and advocacy on behalf of the estimated 25 million adult Americans who live with incontinence. As a 501(c)3 corporation, the not-for-profit is broadly funded by individual consumers, healthcare professionals, and industry. For more information about NAFC, please call 1-800-BLADDER or visit http://www.nafc.org.

The Simon Foundation for Continence

The Simon Foundation for Continence is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is "to bring the topic of incontinence out of the closet, remove the stigma surrounding it, and provide help and hope to individuals with incontinence, their families, and the health professionals who provide their care." For more information about The Simon Foundation, please call 1-800-23SIMON or visit http://www.simonfoundation.org.

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NOTES:

1. Hampel C, Wienhold D, Benken N, Eggersmann C, Thuroff JW. Definition of overactive bladder and epidemiology of urinary incontinence. Urology. 1997;50(suppl 6A):4-14.

2. Abrams P, Cardozo L, Fall M, et al. The standardisation of terminology of lower urinary tract function: report from the Standardisation Sub-committee of the International Continence Society. Neurourol Urodyn. 2002;21(2):167-178.

3. Hampel C, et al. Urology. 1997;50(suppl 6A): 4-14.

4. Diokno AC, et al. Am J Managed Care. 2004;10:69-78. The estimate of STRESS URINARY INCONTINENCE prevalence was derived from Diokno et al and based on STRESS URINARY INCONTINENCE prevalence as determined by Hampel et al and by Diokno et al.

5. US Census 2000 Briefs (Age & Gender), US Department of Commerce.

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