title: Vaginal delivery parameters and urinary incontinence: the Norwegian EPINCONT study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study was undertaken to investigate the effect of nine delivery parameters on urinary incontinence in later life.
  
  
  METHODS
  Incontinence data from the EPINCONT study were linked to the Medical Birth Registry of Norway. Effects of birth weight, gestational age, head circumference, breech delivery, injuries in the delivery channel, functional delivery disorders, forceps delivery, vacuum delivery, and epidural anesthesia were investigated. The study covered women younger than 65 years, who had had vaginal deliveries only (n=11,397).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically significant associations were observed between any incontinence and birth weight 4000 g or greater (odds ratio [OR] 1.1, 95% CI 1.0-1.2); moderate or severe incontinence and functional delivery disorders (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.1-1.6); stress incontinence and high birth weight (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1-1.3) and epidural anesthesia (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.0-1.5); and urge incontinence and head circumference 38 cm or larger (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.0-3.3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The effects were too weak to explain a substantial part of the association between vaginal delivery and urinary incontinence, and statistically significant results may have incurred by chance.
authors.affiliation: Section for General Practice, Department of Public Health and Primary Health Care, University of Bergen, Ulriksdal 8c, N-5009 Bergen, Norway. Guri.Rortveit@isf.uib.no
authors.forename: Guri
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rortveit
authors.forename: Anne Kjersti
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Daltveit
authors.forename: Yngvild S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Hannestad
authors.forename: Steinar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hunskaar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D001824:Body Constitution; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006257:Head / Q000196:embryology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000209:etiology; D014621:Vagina