[Urinary incontinence in women aged 30-59 years. An epidemiological study]

Among the female population of Aarhus Municipality, Denmark, 3,114 women were drawn at random and sent a postal questionnaire about the occurrence of urinary incontinence (UI) in adult life. The response rate was 85%. 26% of the respondents had experienced one or more episodes of UI in adult life. 14% had perceived UI as a social or hygienic problem cf. the UI definition of The International Continence Society. The mean 1987 period prevalence was observed to be 17% (ICS defined UI, 10%). UI incidence rose with increasing age, especially in age groups 25-29 and 45-49 years. By the age of 59, 30% had experienced UI (ICS defined UI, 18%). Pure stress UI and combined stress and urge UI were the most frequent clinical types.