Descriptive epidemiology of urinary incontinence in 3,100 women age 30-59

3,114 women were randomly selected among the 30-59 years old female inhabitants of the Municipality of Aarhus, Denmark, and mailed a questionnaire on experience of urinary incontinence (UI) through adult life. Eighty-five % responded, and 26% reported to have experienced UI in adult life. Fourteen % had perceived it a social of hygienic problem, in accordance with the International Continence Society (ICS) definition. The total period prevalence year 1987 and the period prevalence according to the ICS definition were found to be 17 and 10%, respectively. The estimated incidence of UI increased with age, especially through ages 25-29 and 45-49. By the age of 59, 30 and 18% were estimated to have had one or more episodes of UI in general and ICS defined UI, respectively. Pure stress UI and combined stress and urge UI seemed to be the predominant clinical types.