Urinary incontinence in the Netherlands: Prevalence and associated risk factors in adults

To determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with urinary incontinence (UI) among adults in the Netherlands.

In this cross-sectional study, we included 1257 respondents aged ≥ 18 years, who completed the validated Groningen Defecation and Fecal Continence Checklist. UI was defined as any involuntary leakage of urine during the past 6 months.

The prevalence of UI in the total group was 36.8%. Women experienced UI significantly more often than men (49.0% versus 22.6%, respectively, P < 0.001). We found that in both men and women, the prevalence of UI increased with aging (P = 0.003 and P < 0.001, respectively). Remarkably, multivariate analysis revealed that age did not influence UI in men. Men and women aged 18-39 also experienced UI (17.0% and 36.1%, respectively). We established that diabetes mellitus, fecal incontinence, and constipation were risk factors for UI. In women, obesity, vaginal hysterectomies, and vaginal parturition were also risk factors for UI, as was prostate surgery in men.

The prevalence of UI in the Netherlands is high. Medical practitioners should therefore not underestimate this problem, especially among young people. Because the multivariate analysis revealed that in men age did not correlate significantly with UI, we believe that the risk of experiencing UI increases with age because of diseases that are known to lead to UI and not because of aging as a single factor itself. Finally, this study can be used as a reference for patients living in Western-Europe.