Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 21, 2026
Imaging Features of Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease
Published on: June 16, 2020
The limited cutaneous form of systemic sclerosis is associated with urinary incontinence: an international
Gregor John1,2, Yannick Allanore3, Pamela Polito4
1Department of Internal Medicine, Hôpital neuchâtelois, La Chaux-de-Fonds.
Objectives:
The aim of this study was to explore the association between urinary incontinence (UI) and the main clinical and serological subsets of SSc, to assess risk factors for UI and its impact on quality of life (QoL).
Methods:
UI and QoL were assessed through self-administered questionnaires in 334 patients with SSc from five European tertiary centres. Logistic regressions were performed to test the association between clinical forms, serological status and UI and to adjust for confounders. Further independent predefined SSc risk factors for UI were tested through a multivariable logistic model.
Results:
The prevalence of UI was 63% (95% CI: 60, 68%). lcSSc and ACAs were both significantly associated with UI even after adjusting for age, sex, disability, diabetes, BMI, caffeine consumption, dyspnoea, faecal incontinence, abnormal bowel movement, presence of overlapping rheumatological disease and pulmonary hypertension [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 2.4; 95% CI: 1.2, 4.7]. ACA and lcSSc doubled the risk of frequent and heavy urinary leaks. Factors independently associated with UI were as follows: lcSSc (OR = 2.2; 95% CI: 1.1, 3.2), ACA (OR = 2.8; 95% CI: 1.4, 5.8), female sex (OR = 10.8; 95% CI: 2.8, 41.3), worsening of dyspnoea (OR = 6.8; 95% CI: 1.2, 36.7), higher HAQ-DI (OR = 3.2; 95% CI: 1.5, 6.7), BMI (OR = 1.1; 95% CI: 1.0, 1.1) and active finger ulceration (OR = 0.3; 95% CI: 0.1, 0.7). Patients suffering from UI had decreased QoL.
Conclusion:
Self-reported UI is frequent in SSc and disproportionally affects the limited cutaneous form of the disease and patients positive for ACA.
Trial Registration:
ClinicalTrials.gov, http://clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01971294.
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