Association of urinary incontinence and depression or anxiety: a meta-analysis

We explored the relationship between urinary incontinence (UI) and depression or anxiety.

We searched the Cochrane Library, Embase, and PubMed for articles on the association between depression, anxiety, and UI. We calculated pooled 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and odds ratios (ORs).

Twelve articles (31,462 participants) were included. The UI group had significantly higher depression and anxiety levels than the non-UI group (OR = 1.73, 95%CI: 1.64-1.82, I² = 75.5%). In subgroup analysis, depression and anxiety were significantly higher in participants with UI than in those without UI (OR = 1.95, 95%CI: 1.82-2.10, I² = 64.3% and OR = 1.54, 95%CI: 1.43-1.65, I² = 59.2%, respectively).  In subgroup analysis by age, participants with UI had significantly higher depression and anxiety, regardless of age, than the non-UI group (OR = 1.59, 95%CI: 1.29-1.95, I² = 59.1% and OR = 1.98, 95%CI: 1.62-2.43, I² = 75.5%, respectively).

Patients with UI had significantly higher depression and anxiety levels than those without UI. Depression and anxiety were higher in patients with UI than in those without UI, regardless of age. Larger sample sizes and more high-quality studies are needed to validate our findings.