title: Prevalence and risk factors of urinary incontinence in Indian women: A hospital-based survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Urinary incontinence is a problem that creates both physical and psychological nuisance to a woman. This problem needs to be studied in detail in Indian population because of lack of precise data. The objectives of this study were to study the prevalence and risk factors of urinary incontinence in Indian women.
  
  
  METHODS
  This hospital-based cross-sectional study conducted from August 2005 to June 2007 included women attending gynecology OPD (consulters) and hospital employees (nonconsulters). Subjects who were incontinent were asked a standard set of questions. Incontinence was classified as urge, stress, or mixed based on symptoms. A univariate followed by multivariate analysis was done to look for risk factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 3000 women enrolled, 21.8% (656/3000) women were incontinent. There was no significant difference in incontinence rate between consulters and nonconsulters [618/2804 (22.1%) vs. 38/196 (19.4%); P value = 0.6). Of the total women having incontinence, highest numbers were found to have stress incontinence [73.8% (484/656)] followed by mixed [16.8% (110/656)] and urge incontinence [9.5% (62/656)]. Age more than 40 years; multiparity; postmenopausal status; body mass index more than 25; history of diabetes and asthma; and habit of taking tea, tobacco, pan, and betel are risk factors found to be associated with increased prevalence of urinary incontinence in univariate analysis. On multivariate analysis, age more than 40 years, multiparity, vaginal delivery, hysterectomy, menopause, tea and tobacco intake, and asthma were found to be significantly associated with overall incontinence. Stress incontinence was separately not associated with menopause. Urge incontinence was not associated with vaginal delivery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Urinary incontinence is a bothersome problem for women. Simple questionnaire can help to detect this problem and diagnose associated risk factors, so that necessary steps can be taken in its prevention and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chatthrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University, Lucknow, India.
authors.forename: Uma
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Pragati
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.forename: Manju Lata
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.forename: Diwakar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dalela
authors.forename: Nisha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Pushplata
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shankhwar
keywords: Mixed incontinence; stress incontinence; urge incontinence; urinary incontinence