Prevalence and associated factors of urinary leakage among women participating in the 45 and Up Study

The study was undertaken to investigate the prevalence of urinary leakage and its associated factors among a sample of females aged 45 years and over in New South Wales.

Data were obtained from the 45 and Up Study wherein urinary leakage is identified as women who reported being troubled by leaking urine. At baseline, 143 096 females (2006-2009) and 59 060 females in the follow-up survey (2012-2015) were included in the analysis. We estimated the prevalence, and identified the factors associated with urinary leakage using logistic regression models.

The prevalence of urinary leakage was 44.0% at baseline and 44.6% at the first follow-up survey. Among women who reported urinary leakage at baseline, 21.2% reported urine leakage once a week or less and 13.1% four or more times per week. Increasing age, abnormal BMI, back pain, anxiety, depression, and psychological distress were associated with greater odds of women reporting urinary leakage. Asian ancestry and being unemployed was associated with a lower risk for urinary incontinence.

Findings from this analysis estimate that approximately one in two women aged 45 years and older will most likely experience urinary leakage. The associated factors could serve as screening indicators for urinary leakage.