Urinary incontinence in women: Risk factors according to type and severity

Abstract

Objective: To verify factors associated with urinary incontinence in women by type and severity. Methodology: A cross-sectional study conducted from November 2018 to April 2019 with 30 women in a teaching hospital of Pernambuco. The Gaudenz-Fragebogen instrument was used to identify incontinence types, and the Incontinence Severity Index to classify urinary loss severity. Fisher’s exact test was used to analyze qualitative variables, and the t-Student test for rational variables. Results: Stress-induced urinary incontinence was the most frequent type (66.7%), in its moderate form (43.3%), and was associated with low schooling (p<0.001), Body Mass Index of 28.6 (p=0.043), abdominal circumference of 103.4 (p<0.001), diabetes (p<0.001), number of deliveries above 4 (p=0.046), gynecological surgery (p=0.023), and lack of physical activity (p=0.001). Final Considerations: Identifying the type, severity, and main modifiable risk factors may support more effective and efficient preventive and curative interventions.