Gender Influences on Depression Severity in Patients With Urinary Incontinence

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Psychiatry
• Public Health

Background:

• Urinary incontinence (UI), a common lower urinary tract symptom (LUTS), significantly impacts quality of life and healthcare.
• Depression is a major public health concern, leading to disability and reduced well-being.
• Previous research indicates a strong link between LUTS and depression, but gender-specific differences remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if female patients with LUTS report higher depression scores than males.
• To analyze gender differences in depression severity among individuals with LUTS, controlling for demographic factors.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from 2,326 individuals in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (August 2021-August 2023).
• LUTS defined by self-reported urinary leakage; depression severity assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9).
• Linear regression model used to examine gender differences, adjusting for age, race, education, and marital status.

Main Results:

• The study cohort (mean age 59.47 years) was predominantly female (68.9%).
• Gender was not significantly associated with depression severity in LUTS patients (p = 0.266).
• Age, education, and marital status significantly predicted depression severity; older age, lower education, and unmarried status correlated with higher depression scores.

Conclusions:

• LUTS presence does not significantly alter the general gender disparity in depression prevalence.
• Sociodemographic factors like age, education, and marital status are more influential on depression severity in LUTS patients.
• Future research should explore LUTS subtypes and symptom severity in relation to mental health differences between genders.