Caffeine Intake, and the Risk of Stress, Urgency and Mixed Urinary Incontinence

Abstract

Purpose Although caffeine consumption is common, and is generally believed to affect bladder function, little is known regarding caffeine intake and incident urinary incontinence. Materials and Methods We conducted a prospective cohort study of 65,176 women without incontinence, aged 37–79 years, in the Nurses’ Health Studies. Incident incontinence was identified from questionnaires, during 4 years of follow-up. Caffeine intake was measured using food frequency questionnaires administered prior to incontinence development. Multivariable-adjusted relative risks for the relation between caffeine intake and incontinence risk were calculated, as well as attributable risks. Results Caffeine was not associated with incontinence monthly or more, but there was a modest, significantly increased risk of incontinence at least weekly among women with the highest versus the lowest intake (RR 1.19, 95% CI 1.06–1.34, comparing >450 vs. <150 mg/day) and a significant trend of increasing risk with increasing intake (p-value for trend=0.01). This risk appeared focused in incident urgency incontinence (RR 1.34, 95% CI 1.00–1.80 comparing >450 vs. <150 mg/day, p-value for trend=0.05), but not stress or mixed incontinence (p-values for trend=0.75 and 0.19, respectively). The attributable risk for urgency incontinence associated with high caffeine intake was 25%. Conclusions Our findings suggest that high caffeine intake, but not lower levels, is associated with a modest increase in incidence of frequent urgency incontinence; one-quarter of these cases among women with the highest level of caffeine consumption might be eliminated if high caffeine intake was eliminated. Confirmation of these findings in other studies is needed before recommendations can be made.

Urinary Incontinence Before and After Bariatric Surgery

“…Improvements in incontinence after bariatric surgery may also have resulted from positive changes in lifestyle (increased physical activity) 39,40 or dietary composition (decreased bladder irritants such as caffeine). 41 …”

Caffeine and Urinary Incontinence in US Women

“…Dalosso et al found no association between tea or coffee consumption and stress UI or overactive bladder symptoms in the 39,603 male and female participants in the Leicestershire MRC Incontinence Study in the UK [17]. More recently, Jura et al recently reported data from the Nurses' Health Study characterizing measured caffeine intake and the presence of UI [18]. Their conclusion that high caffeine intake(>450 mg/day)was associated (RR 1.3, 95% CI 1.0, 1.8) with frequent UI (≥weekly) and urgency UI (RR 1.42, 95% CI 1.04, 1.95) is similar to our findings that caffeine intake ≥204 mg/day was associated any UI (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.07, 2.01).…”

“…Epidemiologic and clinical cohort studies have demonstrated mixed results regarding the relationship of caffeine and fluid intake on UI in women [12][13][14][15][16]. Two large epidemiologic studies found conflicting conclusions on whether caffeine impacts incontinence [17,18]. Little robust evidence exists on caffeine and fluid management strategies.…”

Complementary and Alternative Medicine Treatment for Urinary Incontinence

“…Of those, cafeinated beverages are considered to play an important role in inducing UI due to their diuretic efect. A prospective cohort study of more than 65,000 women found that excessive cafeine intake (≥450 mg/ day) was associated with an increased incidence of UI [5]. A case-control study demonstrated that high cafeine intake (≥400 mg/day) might cause detrusor overactivity which is related to UUI based on urodynamic evaluation [6].…”