Overweight, obesity up risk of urinary incontinence

Chronic, increased body mass index (BMI) may lead to an increased risk of urinary incontinence (UI) later in life, according to a study of postmenopausal women. In addition, symptom severity may get worse with the duration of increased BMI status.

A team of investigators examined the cumulative effect of obesity over a postmenopausal woman’s lifetime on the development of UI using data from the Women’s Health Initiative. They also assessed the association between overweight/obesity duration and the development of UI during the Women’s Health Initiative study at year 3 using logistic models.

A total of 15,420 women aged 50‒79 years were included, of whom 4,568 (30.0 percent) developed UI by year 3. When controlling for covariates, the duration of overweight years (OWY) and obese years (OBY) significantly correlated with overall UI.

The number of OWY correlated with an elevated risk of developing UI postmenopausally (OR, 1.17, 95 percent CI, 1.13‒1.22) relative to those with 0 OWY. Likewise, the number of OBY correlated with an increased risk of developing UI postmenopausally (OR, 1.28, 95 percent CI, 1.18‒1.39). UI severity also correlated with higher OWY/OBY.

Participants who gained weight from age 18‒50 years (OR, 1.26, 95 percent CI, 1.16‒1.37) and those who remained overweight/obese (OR, 1.27, 95 percent CI, 1.04‒1.55) were more likely to have elevated UI than those who maintained normal weight. Participants who lost weight, on the other hand, reported no difference in any UI rates.

“Weight management should be supported throughout one’s lifetime, as it may impact UI in later stages of life,” the investigators said.