Risk factors for urinary incontinence in women.
OBJECTIVE
To review the epidemiological evidence on risk factors for urinary incontinence (UI) in women.


METHODS
Using Medline and a manual search we identified the main papers published in English up to 1998.


RESULTS
There is consistent evidence that the frequency of UI increases with age, but there is little information on the frequency of different types of UI in different age groups. With regard to other risk factors, there is a clinical consensus that vaginal delivery and, more in general, obstetric traumas are associated with UI, although epidemiological studies are not always consistent. Less defined is the role of race, menopausal status, history of gynecological surgery, body mass index, smoking, and coffee and alcohol consumption on the risk of UI.


CONCLUSIONS
In the coming years, epidemiological research should focus particularly on the potential differences in the epidemiological characteristics of different types of UI in order to gain insight into the pathogenic mechanisms.
Parazzini
F
F
Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche 'Mario Negri', Milano, Italia. parazzini@irfmn.mnegri.it
Colli
E
E
Origgi
G
G
Surace
M
M
Bianchi
M
M
Benzi
G
G
Artibani
W
W
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000150:complications