Prevalence and risk factors for urinary incontinence in Italy

Objectives: To analyze the frequency and risk factors for urinary incontine nce (UI) in Italy. Methods: Eligible for this cross-sectional study were men aged greater than or equal to 50 years and women aged greater than or equal to 40, randomly identified among registered subjects of a network of general practitioners during the period March-October 1997. All subjects were invited by telephon ic interview to determine the presence of UI, reported by the subjects as l ass of urine in the last year. The subjects with UI were further questioned at home for evaluation of the type, degree and frequency of UI episodes. Results: Of the 5,488 subjects interviewed (2,767 women and 2,721 men), 92 (3%) men and 316 (11%)women reported at least one episode of UI during the year before the interview. The frequence of UI increased with age both in m en and women, being 2 and 11% in men and women, respectively, aged 50-60 ye ars and 7 and 16% in those aged greater than or equal to 70. Of the subject s with UI identified, 229 women and 64 men and a group of 289 subjects with out UI were questionned at home using a detailed questionnaire. Six and 55% of men and women, respectively, reported stress incontinence, 20 and 12% u rge incontinence and 20 and 24% mixed incontinence. The risk of UI increase d with body mass index in women. A history of recurrent urinary infection w as associated with UI in men and less markedly in women. No association eme rged between education, smoking and alcohol or coffee consumption and risk of UI. Parity was directly associated with the risk of UI in women. Conclusions: The study offers a quantitative estimate of the prevalence of UI and its main risk factors in this Italian population. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.