Updated Prevalence of Urinary Incontinence in Women: 2015-2018 National Population-Based Survey Data

This study from HIP Investigator Dr. Heidi Brown aimed to update estimates of urinary incontinence (UI) prevalence and associated risk factors for adult women in the United States, using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The study used descriptive analysis of 2015-2018 NHANES weighted data for women to estimate prevalence and characterize UI types and severity.

Complete data were available for 5,006 women. They found that more than 60% of community-dwelling adult women in the United States experience any UI and an increase from prior estimates using NHANES data from 1999 to 2004; more than 20% experience moderate or more severe UI. Increases in UI prevalence may be related to population aging and increasing obesity prevalence. Age greater than 70 years, body mass index greater than 40, and vaginal birth had the strongest association with UI in multivariate modeling.