Prevalence, Incidence and Obstetric Factors’ Impact on Female Urinary Incontinence in Europe: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Objectives: A systematic review of the published data on the prevalence, incidence and risk factors of female urinary incontinence (UI) and obstetric treatment of UI in Europe. Data Sources: Epidemiologic studies were sought via PubMed to identify articles published in English, French, Spanish, German and Italian between 2000 and September 30, 2010, in Europe. Results: The prevalence of UI ranged from 14.1 to 68.8% and increased with increasing age. Significant risk factors for UI in pregnancy were maternal age ≥35 years and initial body mass index, a family history of UI and parity. UI in women who delivered ‘at term’ ranged from 26 to 40.2%, with a remission rate of 3 months after childbirth of up to 86.4%. Pelvic floor muscle training may help to prevent postpartum UI in primiparous women without UI during pregnancy. Conclusion: UI definition, outcome measures, survey methods and validation criteria are still heterogeneous, and thus it is difficult to compare data and impossible to draw definite conclusions.

Urinary incontinence related to perineal muscle strength in the first trimester of pregnancy: cross-sectional study

“…In this study, the average (8.2; SD = 3.9) and the median (8) of the ICIQ-SF score showed values that were compatible with moderate impact on the quality of life of pregnant women with UI, considering the classification into four categories of severity: light (1-5), moderate (6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12), heavy (13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18) and very heavy (19)(20)(21) (28) .…”

“…La FMSP fue evaluada por la perineometría y las mujeres embarazadas con incontinencia urinaria (IU) respondieron al International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF). Resultados: Muestran que edad materna (OR=1,06 IC95% 1,02-1,11) y IU previa (OR=15,12; IC95% 8,(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)92) son las variables que, en conjunto, mejor explican la ocurrencia de IU al inicio del embarazo. La media del escore ICIQ-SF fue 8,2 (d.p.=3,9), considerado como de impacto moderado en la calidad de vida.…”

“…Urinary incontinence related to perineal muscle strength in the first trimester of pregnancy: cross-sectional study Maternal age was related to UI in a cross-sectional study (19) and in two literature reviews (9,20) . In the crosssectional study (19) , the chances of UI increased according to age (OR = 1.05 CI95% 1.01 -1.09).…”

“…In the crosssectional study (19) , the chances of UI increased according to age (OR = 1.05 CI95% 1.01 -1.09). In one of the reviews, a cut-off point of 35 years of age was shown in the referenced studies as a risk factor for UI (20) . In the other review, age was an independent factor for UI in more than 20 studies, with an evidence level of 2 (based on low quality random clinical trials and good quality cohort studies) (9) .…”

Prevalence of overactive bladder symptoms and urinary incontinence in a tertiary care hospital in Egypt

“…This result is supported by many studies which estimate its prevalence to be in the range of 12-69%, although estimates vary greatly in different countries and depend up on the age of the study group. [19][20][21][22] In another study done in Egypt on 1652 women, the overall prevalence of UI was 54.8% (the prevalence of SUI, UUI and MUI was 14.8%, 15% and 25%, respectively) which is higher than the present study. 23 In our study, the prevalence of SUI, UUI and MUI was 5.7%, 5.1% and 11.4%, respectively.…”