EPSRC-NIHR HTC Partnership Award: IMPRESS Network, Incontinence Management and Prevention through Engineering and Sciences

大便失禁（FI）被定义为无法完全控制粪便通过肛门。这可能是由于肛门括约肌减弱（通常在分娩后）、神经供应问题（如中风、多发性硬化症）或与其他胃肠道疾病（如肠易激综合征）有关。这是一种常见且令人痛苦的疾病，会导致羞耻、尴尬、抑郁、社交孤立、保密、自卑和性回避。因此，超过54%的FI患者没有与医生讨论过他们的症状，只有四分之一的FI患者由他们的全科医生转介进行专科治疗。其确切患病率难以确定，但最好的估计表明，在成年人中约为10%，65岁以下为0.5% - 1%，65岁以上为3% - 8%，经常出现大便失禁。尿失禁（UI）被定义为不自觉的尿漏，UI是NHS资源的主要负担。这是一种常见且令人痛苦的疾病，影响着生活质量。尿失禁的主要形式是压力性尿失禁（SUI）和迫击性尿失禁（UUI），这是一种体力消耗的渗漏，是一种强烈的排尿欲望。混合性尿失禁是SUI和UUI的结合。尿失禁的患病率随着年龄的增长而增加，在被收容的成年人中患病率更高，这些成年人往往年龄较大，并伴有相关的合并症。这通常是女性的问题，女性的患病率从4.5%到53%不等，而男性的患病率为1.5%和24%。虽然以前认为是孤立的，但人们越来越认识到，许多形式的FI和UI具有共同的潜在病理生理，并且经常与盆腔器官脱垂共存。尿失禁给NHS带来了巨大的负担，并对英国数千名患者的生活质量产生了重大影响。虽然医学工程的许多领域在工程师和科学家参与推动新兴技术开发方面都有增长，但可以说，这种疾病的本质使工程和科学研究的领导者看不到一些丰富的研究挑战的潜力。这个拟议的网络将为英国领先的技术专家（来自学术界和工业界）提供一个台阶的变化，为失禁患者提供实质性的影响。

Faecal Incontinence (FI) is defined as the inability to fully control the passage of faeces through the anus. This may arise due to a weakened anal sphincter muscle (typically following child birth), problems with nerve supply (e.g. stroke, multiple sclerosis), or in association with other gastrointestinal conditions (e.g. irritable bowel syndrome). It is a common and distressing condition that causes shame, embarrassment, depression, social isolation, secrecy, poor self-esteem, and sexual avoidance. As a result, more than 54% of patients with FI have not discussed their symptoms with a physician , and only one-quarter of patients with FI are referred by their GP for specialist treatment . Its exact prevalence is difficult to determine but best estimates suggest that in the adult population it is around 10%, and that 0.5% - 1% below 65 years and 3% - 8% over 65 years experience regular faecal incontinence. Urinary Incontinence (UI) is defined as involuntary leakage of urine, UI presents a major burden on NHS resources. It is a common and distressing condition, which impacts of quality of life. The main forms of UI are stress incontinence (SUI), which is leakage with physical exertion, and urge incontinence (UUI), which is leakage with a strong desire to void. Mixed urinary incontinence is a combination of SUI and UUI. The prevalence of UI increases with age and is higher in institutionalised adults, who tend to be older and suffer associated co-morbidity. It is more often a problem for females, with prevalence rates of UI ranging from 4.5% to 53% in women, as compared to 1.5% and 24% in men. Although previously considered in isolation, it is increasingly recognised that many forms of FI and UI share a common underlying pathophysiology and frequently co-exist with pelvic organ prolapseIncontinence places a massive burden on the NHS and impacts significantly on quality of life for thousands of patients in the UK. Whilst many areas of medical engineering share a growth in the engagement of engineers and scientists to push forward the exploitation of emerging technologies it is arguably the case that the nature of this disease prevents engineering and science research leaders seeing the potential for some rich research challenges. This proposed network will provide a step change in the increased engagement of leading UK technologists (from academia and industry) to provide a substantial impact to incontinence sufferers.