Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 21, 2026
In Silico Clinical Trials for Cardiovascular Disease
Published on: May 27, 2022
Urinary incontinence and cardiovascular disease: a narrative review
Gregor John1,2
1Department of Internal Medicine, Hôpital neuchâtelois, Rue de la Maladière 45, 2000, Neuchâtel, Switzerland. gregor.john@h-ne.ch.
Insights
Urinary incontinence (UI) is linked to higher mortality, potentially due to shared risks with cardiovascular disease. Managing cardiovascular health may improve bladder function and reduce UI incidence.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Cardiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common condition with a newly recognized association with increased mortality.
- Shared risk factors between cardiovascular disease (CVD) and UI suggest a potential link explaining this observation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the association between UI and common cardiovascular risk factors.
- To explore the benefits of cardiovascular risk management on bladder health.
Main Methods:
- Narrative review of existing literature.
- Exploration of specific cardiovascular risk factors: obesity, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, alcohol, and caffeine.
- Review of studies on cardiovascular risk factor management and bladder health.
Main Results:
- Cardiovascular risk factors like obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and smoking significantly impact bladder function and are linked to UI.
- These factors often precede new-onset UI and demonstrate a dose-dependent relationship.
- Prevention strategies for cardiovascular disease, including weight loss and smoking cessation, show benefits in reducing UI incidence, prevalence, and severity.
Conclusions:
- The association between UI, cardiovascular risk factors, and mortality highlights the need for integrated screening.
- Screening for UI in the general population and cardiovascular risk factors in UI patients is recommended.
- Improved adherence to cardiovascular prevention programs may be motivated by the secondary benefit of enhanced bladder health.
Introduction And Hypothesis:
Urinary incontinence (UI) has recently been associated with increased mortality. This observation deserves consideration, since UI is a frequent condition. Shared risk with cardiovascular disease and UI could offer part of the explanation.
Methods:
In this narrative review, we explore the association between UI and some cardiovascular risk factors: obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, tobacco smoking, alcohol, and caffeine intake. We also review the benefit of cardiovascular risk management on bladder health.
Results:
Bladder function is affected by many cardiovascular risk factors. They can be protective or detrimental. Obesity, diabetes, and, to a lesser extent, high blood pressure and cigarette smoking have been associated with UI in different settings, precede new onset UI in longitudinal studies, have a dose effect, and have a biologic mechanism linked with UI. Thus, UI could be considered a possible consequence of metabolic syndrome. Furthermore, prevention programs aimed at decreasing weight, quitting smoking, healthy diet, and increasing physical activity have resulted in a decreased incidence, prevalence, and severity of UI.
Conclusions:
Knowing the association among UI, cardiovascular risk factors, and mortality should encourage UI screening in the population as well as cardiovascular risk factor screening among patients with UI. The secondary benefit for UI could be an important motivator for increasing adherence to cardiovascular prevention programs.
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