BODY-MASS INDEX AND ADULT FEMALE URINARY-INCONTINENCE

The aim of the present investigation was to study the possible role of obesity in the etiology of adult female urinary incontinence (UI). A random population sample of 3,114 women aged 30-59 years were mailed a questionnaire concerning UI and, among other things, body weight and height. The overall rate of response was 85%, and the present analysis comprises 2,589 women who supplied information about their body weigh t and height. The period prevalence of all UI, stress UI, urge UI, and mixed stress and urge UI was 17%, 15%, 9%, and 7%, respectively. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 22.7 kg/m2. Irrespective of other risk indicators, BMI was positively associated with UI prevalence (OR, 1.07 /BMI unit; P < 0.0001). BMI interacted with childbirth in predicting s tress UI prevalence, with cystitis in predicting urge UI, and with bot h in predicting mixed UI. Stress UI proved to be the UI type most clos ely associated with BMI.