The prevalence of urinary incontinence in women in four European countries.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence, type and treatment behaviour of women with urinary incontinence in four European countries.


METHODS
Data were collected using a postal survey which was sent to 29,500 community-dwelling women aged > or = 18 years in France, Germany, Spain and the UK. Subjects were asked about the type of urinary incontinence they had experienced and their treatment behaviour.


RESULTS
Of the women who responded, 35% reported involuntary loss of urine in the preceding 30 days; stress urinary incontinence was the most prevalent type. The lowest prevalence was in Spain (23%), while the prevalence was 44%, 41% and 42% for France, Germany and the UK, respectively. About a quarter of women with urinary incontinence in Spain (24%) and the UK (25%) had consulted a doctor about it; in France (33%) and Germany (40%) the percentages were higher. Overall, <5% of the women had ever undergone surgery for their condition. While pads were used by half of the women, there were some differences among the countries.


CONCLUSIONS
Millions of women in Europe have urinary incontinence; the consultation and treatment rates were low in the European countries included in this study.
Hunskaar
S
S
Section for General Practice, Department of Public Health and Primary Health Care, University of Bergen, Norway. steinar.hunskar@isf.uib.no
Lose
G
G
Sykes
D
D
Voss
S
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy