The epidemiology of female urinary incontinence

Abstract

Prevalence estimates of urinary incontinence (UI) in the community-dwelling population vary considerably, ranging between 10 and 50%, depending on definitions, survey methodology and survey sample. Meta-analysis of epidemiological studies concludes that a 30% prevalence of at least some degree of UI is a plausible estimate. The majority of affected women have symptoms of stress incontinence. At older age, urge incontinence and urgency symptoms become more prominent. The prevalence of severe and bothersome incontinence across studies is more consistent and ranges between 6% and 10%. Pregnancy and childbirth, age, obesity, lower urinary tract symptoms and functional and/or cognitive impairment are significantly related with the onset of UI. Menopause may give rise to symptoms of urgency, urge incontinence, frequency and nocturia. There is no clear relationship between menopause and the onset of stress incontinence. Prospective, longitudinal studies are needed to establish the relationship between the onset of UI and other medical correlates.

Propuesta de puntos de corte para diferentes indicadores antropométricos en la predicción de la incontinencia urinaria en mujeres

“…A pesar de la alta prevalencia, hubo un predominio de pérdidas en pequeña cantidad de orina y con baja frecuencia (una vez a la semana o menos). En este sentido, un meta-análisis verificó tasa de prevalencia que variaba de 10% a 50% en la población mundial, siendo el pico en la media edad (2).…”

Vaistų, Vartojamų Dirgliosios Šlapimo Pūslės Sindromo Gydymui, Efektyvumo Palyginimas

“…Kaip teigiama daktaro disertacijoje, tikėtina, kad to priežastis -minimalios Lietuvos gydytojų epidemiologinės žinios, kurias nulemia šlapimo nelaikymu sergančių pacientų registro nebuvimas [1]. Remiantis užsienio autorių atliktais tyrimais, vidutiniškai 30% visų moterų nesulaiko šlapimo [2][3][4]. Pasaulyje įvairių studijų duomenimis, dirgliosios šlapimo pūslės sindromo paplitimas svyruoja nuo 11,8% iki 16,6% [5].…”

Ageing of the female pelvic floor: towards treatment a la carte of the “geripause”

“…This is accompanied by considerable interest in the contemporary biomedical literature, in particular, about the prevalence, detrimental effects, and management of support-related pelvic floor dysfunction (pelvic organ prolapse, urinary incontinence, and fecal incontinence) in the geripausal population. There seems to be no consensus, however, whether the exact underlying mechanism is normative ageing, falling circulating estrogen levels caused by menopausal ovarian failure, or a combination of both factors [3][4][5][6][7][8][9].It is widely believed that estrogen deprivation at the climacteric is primarily responsible for support-related pelvic floor dysfunction in geripausal women. This assumption is based on the detection of estrogen receptors in the components of continence-maintaining and supportive pelvic floor structures in premenopausal women and experimental animals [3][4][5][6].…”

“…This is accompanied by considerable interest in the contemporary biomedical literature, in particular, about the prevalence, detrimental effects, and management of support-related pelvic floor dysfunction (pelvic organ prolapse, urinary incontinence, and fecal incontinence) in the geripausal population. There seems to be no consensus, however, whether the exact underlying mechanism is normative ageing, falling circulating estrogen levels caused by menopausal ovarian failure, or a combination of both factors [3][4][5][6][7][8][9].…”

“…Paradoxically, a recent meta-analysis and a large prospective randomized control trial showed that estrogen replacement therapy significantly increased the risk and severity of urinary incontinence in continent and symptomatic postmenopausal women, respectively [7,8]. Systematic review of current epidemiological studies and surgical series also consistently found that age is by far one of the strongest predictors of female support-related pelvic floor dysfunction or treatment failure, respectively, while the role of menopause remains uncertain [9,10].…”