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

大便失禁(FI)的定义是无法完全控制粪便通过肛门的通道。这可能是由于肛门括约肌虚弱(通常在分娩后)、神经供应问题(例如中风、多发性硬化症)或与其他胃肠道疾病(例如肠易激综合征)有关。这是一种常见的令人痛苦的情况，会导致羞愧、尴尬、抑郁、社会孤立、秘密、自尊低下和性回避。因此，超过54%的FI患者没有与医生讨论他们的症状，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。它的确切患病率很难确定，但最好的估计表明，在成年人口中，它约为10%，65岁以下有0.5%-1%，65岁以上有3%-8%。尿失禁被定义为非自愿性尿漏，尿失禁是NHS资源的主要负担。这是一种常见而令人痛苦的情况，影响着生活质量。尿失禁的主要形式是压力性尿失禁(SUI)和急迫性尿失禁(UUI)，前者是体力消耗导致的渗漏，后者是渗漏并伴有强烈的排尿欲望。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，在住院的成年人中更高，他们往往年龄较大，并患有相关的共同疾病。这更多的是女性的问题，女性尿失禁的患病率从4.5%到53%不等，而男性的患病率为1.5%和24%。尽管以前是单独考虑的，但越来越多的人认识到，许多形式的FI和UI具有共同的潜在病理生理学，并且经常与盆腔器官脱垂共存。大小便失禁给NHS带来了巨大的负担，并显著影响了英国数千名患者的生活质量。虽然医学工程的许多领域都有工程师和科学家参与推动新兴技术开发的增长，但可以说，这种疾病的性质阻止了工程和科学研究领导人看到一些丰富的研究挑战的潜力。这个拟议的网络将使英国领先技术专家(来自学术界和工业界)的参与增加一步，为大小便失禁患者提供实质性影响。

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.