Racial differences in urinary incontinence prevalence and associated bother: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Journal Article

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Authors: Akbar, A; Liu, K; Michos, ED; Brubaker, L; Markossian, T; Bancks, MP; Kramer, H
Article Title: Racial differences in urinary incontinence prevalence and associated bother: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.
Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Urinary incontinence is influenced by multiple factors, and prevalence of urinary incontinence subtypes may differ by race/ethnicity. OBJECTIVE: To determine prevalence of urinary incontinence subtypes and associated bother among women by race/ethnicity. STUDY DESIGN: This cross-sectional analysis utilized data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) , an observational cohort study of four racial/ethnic groups recruited from six U.S. communities. At the sixth follow-up exam, urinary symptoms were ascertained with the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire. Prevalence rate ratios of stress urinary incontinence, urgency urinary incontinence and mixed urinary incontinence by race/ethnicity were calculated using generalized linear models for the binomial family while adjusting for covariates. Degree of bother was based on a scale of 0 (none) to 10 (greatest bother) and presence of any bother was defined as a score = 3. RESULTS: Among the 1749 female MESA participants who completed the sixth follow-up exam, 1628 (93%) completed the questionnaire. Women who did not complete the questionnaire were older compared to completers (average age 82.2 [standard deviation [SD] 9.5] vs.73.7 [8.4] years; P 0.01) and more likely to use diuretics (29.8% vs. 18.9%; p 0.01). Among those who completed the questionnaire (n=1628), 39.4% were white, 12.5% were Chinese, 27.2% were Black and 20.9% were Hispanic. After adjusting for covariates, stress urinary incontinence (Prevalence Ratio 0.47; 95% CI 0.25, 0.86) and mixed urinary incontinence (Prevalence Ratio 0.58; 95% CI 0.38, 0.89) regardless of bother scores were significantly less prevalent among Black vs. White women while no significant racial/ethnic differences in stress or mixed urinary incontinence prevalence were noted for Chinese or Hispanic vs White women. No racial/ethnic differences in prevalence of urgency urinary incontinence were noted after adjustment for covariates. The majority of women with urinary incontinence reported bother scores = 3 regardless of race/ethnicity and urinary incontinence subtype and bother scores did not differ significantly by race/ethnicity. CONCLUSION: Frequency of urinary incontinence subtypes may differ by race/ethnicity but older women who report urinary incontinence are likely to have associated bother regardless of race/ethnicity.
Journal Title: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
ISSN: 1097-6868; 0002-9378
Publisher: Unknown  
Date Published: 2020