[Evaluation of factors related to the occurrence of female urinary incontinence]

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the risk factors related to occurrence of female urinary incontinence.

Methods: A case-control study that included 253 women (102 continent and 151 incontinent) invited to respond to an epidemiological questionnaire on possible risk factors for urinary incontinence. They were age, hormone status, race, body mass index, parity, types of deliveries (normal, forceps or cesarean), weight of largest newborn, use of episiotomy and/or analgesia during labor, history of hysterectomy, physical activity, smoking, diabetes mellitus, constipation, history of bronchial asthma and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, use of diuretics and/or antidepressants.

Results: After application of binary logistic regression model we found, as risk factors for occurrence of urinary incontinence: age [OR = 1.07 (CI 1.03 to 1.1)], vaginal delivery [OR = 1.5 (CI 1.1 to 12.0)], forceps delivery [OR = 35.0 (CI 3.7 to 327)] and weight of largest newborn [OR = 1.001 (CI 1-1.002)]. Furthermore, we identified as a protective factor cesarean delivery [OR = 0.39 (CI 0.23 to 0.65)].

Conclusion: The independent risk factors for occurrence of urinary incontinence included age, vaginal delivery, forceps delivery and weight of largest infant and as a protective factor, cesarean section delivery.