Risk factors for urinary incontinence in both sexes - Analysis of a health screening project

Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify factors related to urinary incontinence in both sexes by analysing almost 2.500 individuals participating in a health screening project in the area of Vienna. Materials and Methods: An incontinence questionnaire (Bristol LUTS questionnaire) was included to health investigations. During this investigation (a) a medical history; (b) a physical investigation; (c) sociodemographic parameters including smoking, eating and drinking habits, and (d) urine and blood study including 14 parameters were obtained. The parameters collected during this health investigation were correlated to the presence of urinary incontinence to identify potential risk factors for urinary incontinence. Results: 1,262 women (49.7 +/- 13.6 years) and 1,236 men (48.6 +/- 13.0 years) were analyzed. In the female population, 26.3% reported on episodes of urinary incontinence during the past 4 weeks. Among other factors, age (correlation coefficient [r] = 0.22), body mass index (r = 0.20), urgency (r = 0.16), feeling of incomplete bladder emptying (r = 0.21), previous uro-gynecological surgery and fasting blood glucose correlated significantly to urinary incontinence. Five percent of men were incontinent, age (r = 0.12), urgency (r = 0.16), nocturia (r = 0.16), feeling of incomplete emptying (r = 0.16), reduced uroflow (r = 0.18) and previous prostatectomy (r = 0.11) correlated to the presence of urinary incontinence. In both sexes, smoking habits and the education level revealed no association. Conclusions: The high prevalence of urinary incontinence, its socioeconomic implications, the continuously ageing population and the fact that a number of potential risk factors, particularly in women, have been identified suggest that targeted prevention is a major task for the future. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.