Risk Factors for Urinary Incontinence in Japanese Elderly Women

The aim of this study is to clarify risk factors of urinary incontinence (UI) in elderly Japanese women.We randomly selected 1600 women, aged between 65 and 74 years, from the resident registration of Sapporo City and we analyzed 746 women, who responded twice on surveys in 2010 and 2011. UI was defined as frequent UI when it occurred at least once a week in both 2010 and 2011.Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the past maximum body weight, smoking index, past history of bladder disease or hemorrhoids, and the participant's mother's history of UI were significantly associated with an increased risk of UI.Lifestyle habits such as weight gain and smoking habits were associated with an increased risk of UI in Japanese women. Further study is needed, because modification of these risk factors may possibly result in reducing risk of UI.