Objectives:A systematic review of the published data on the prevalence, incidence and risk factors of female urinary incontinence (UI) and obstetric treatment of UI in Europe.
Data Sources:Epidemiologic studies were sought via PubMed to identify articles published in English, French, Spanish, German and Italian between 2000 and September 30, 2010, in Europe.
Results:The prevalence of UI ranged from 14.1 to 68.8% and increased with increasing age. Significant risk factors for UI in pregnancy were maternal age ≥35 years and initial body mass index, a family history of UI and parity. UI in women who delivered 'at term' ranged from 26 to 40.2%, with a remission rate of 3 months after childbirth of up to 86.4%. Pelvic floor muscle training may help to prevent postpartum UI in primiparous women without UI during pregnancy.
Conclusion: UI definition, outcome measures, survey methods and validation criteria are still heterogeneous, and thus it is difficult to compare data and impossible to draw definite conclusions.
Written by:
Cerruto MA, D'Elia C, Aloisi A, Fabrello M, Artibani W. Are you the author?
Department of Urology, AOUI Verona, Verona, Italy.
Reference: Urol Int. 2012 Aug 3. Epub ahead of print.
doi: 10.1159/000339929
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 22868349
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