Urinary incontinence and waist circumference in older women.
OBJECTIVE
the study aims to determine the association between adiposity and fitness with urinary incontinence (UI) in older women.


METHODS
a cross-sectional study was conducted in southern Brazil. A sample of 1,069 urban women, age 60+, was assessed for UI (in-person interview), adiposity (body mass index [BMI] and waist circumference [WC]) and fitness. Logistic regression models were developed to assess the association between UI and the independent variables-adiposity (BMI and WC) and fitness indicators. All models were adjusted for age, socioecomomic level, diabetes and hypertension.


RESULTS
BMI and functional tests were not significantly associated with UI. WC was an independent and significant predictor. Relative to women in the lowest quartile of WC, odds ratios for UI were 1.98 for WC of 79-86 cm, 2.07 for WC of 86-94 cm and 2.24 for WC >94 cm (P = 0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
central adiposity, as indicated by large WC, increases the risk of UI. Intra-abdominal pressure and its effect on urethral structures may be responsible for this increased risk. Older women should be counselled on the risk of central obesity for UI.
Krause
Maressa P
MP
Center for Exercise and Health-Fitness Research, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA. mpk19@pitt.edu
Albert
Steven M
SM
Elsangedy
Hassan M
HM
Krinski
Kleverton
K
Goss
Fredric L
FL
daSilva
Sergio G
SG
D050154:Adiposity; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D014505:Urban Population; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055105:Waist Circumference / Q000502:physiology*