Low trunk muscle mass could predict severe stress urinary incontinence in Asian women

Adequate pelvic floor support for the urethra is crucial for preventing stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Obesity is an established risk factor for SUI. This study aimed to explore the relationship between SUI and body composition, specifically focusing on muscle and fat mass.

This single-center, prospective, cross-sectional study enrolled women who visited the genitourinary clinic of Taipei City Hospital-Zhongxiao Branch between 1 February 2020 and 31 January 2021. SUI severity was classified according to the type of daily activity in which SUI occurred. Potential risk factors for SUI, including age, labor and history of hysterectomy, were also included. All participants underwent a bioelectric impedance analysis of their body composition. Independent t-tests and Pearson's χ²-tests were used to compare the differences in continuous and categorical parameters between groups. Logistic regression analysis was used to characterize the predictive value of body composition for severe SUI.

Of the 256 included patients, 37 had severe SUI. The participants with severe SUI were older and were more likely to have undergone a hysterectomy. They also had a considerably higher prevalence of sarcopenia. In the univariate analysis, a sarcopenia diagnosis was associated with severe SUI. Furthermore, a history of hysterectomy correlated with severe SUI, although with borderline significance. In the multivariate analysis, a history of hysterectomy and lower trunk muscle mass index were found to be independent predictors of severe SUI.

A history of hysterectomy and a lower trunk muscle mass index are correlated with severe SUI. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2025; 25: 226-231.