Prevalence of overactive bladder, urinary incontinence, and lower urinary tract symptoms: results of Korean EPIC study.
OBJECTIVE
Despite growing interest in overactive bladder (OAB), urinary incontinence (UI), and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), there is no epidemiologic study on the prevalence in general population of Korea. This survey was aimed at estimating the prevalence of OAB, UI, and other LUTS among Korean men and women.


METHODS
Population-based cross-sectional telephone survey was conducted between May and September 2006 using questionnaire regarding demographics and the prevalence. A geographically stratified random sample of men and women aged ≥ 18 years were selected. Current International Continence Society definitions were used for individual LUTS and OAB.


RESULTS
Of a total of 9,067 individuals contacted, 2,000 (888 men, 1,112 women) agreed to participate. Overall prevalence of LUTS was 61.4% (53.7% of men, 68.9% of women) and the prevalence increased with age. Storage LUTS was more prevalent than voiding or post-micturition LUTS in both men (storage; 44.6%, voiding; 28.5%, post-micturition; 15.9%) and women (storage; 64.4%, voiding; 25.9%, post-micturition; 13.9%). Nocturia was the most frequently reported symptom (36.6% of men, 48.2% of women). Overall prevalence of OAB was 12.2% (10.0% of men, 14.3% of women). UI was reported by 2.9% of men and 28.4% of women. The most prevalent type was other UI in men and stress urinary incontinence in women.


CONCLUSIONS
Lower urinary tract symptoms and OAB are prevalent among Korean men and women and the prevalence increases with age. Storage LUTS is more prevalent than voiding or post-micturition LUTS and nocturia is the most common symptom.
Lee
Young-Suk
YS
Department of Urology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Irwon-dong 50, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 135-710, Korea.
Lee
Kyu-Sung
KS
Jung
Jae Hun
JH
Han
Deok Hyun
DH
Oh
Seung-June
SJ
Seo
Ju Tae
JT
Lee
Jeong Gu
JG
Park
Hye Sook
HS
Choo
Myung-Soo
MS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D053448:Prostatism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D053201:Urinary Bladder, Overactive / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D055815:Young Adult