Association between urinary incontinence and sarcopenic obesity among middle-aged and older Brazilian women

Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common complaint among middle-aged and older women, associated with many negative impacts in health. The aim of this study was to analyze whether an association exists between UI and sarcopenic obesity (SO) among middle-aged and older women living in northeastern Brazil. The association of UI with sarcopenia or obesity alone was also assessed.

In a cross-sectional, analytical study, 531 women living in Santa Cruz and Parnamirim, Rio Grande do Norte state (Brazil), aged between 40 and 80 years, were assessed for the presence of UI in the last 12 months by self-reporting. Waist circumference equal to or greater than 88 cm was considered to classify obesity, while skeletal muscle mass below 5.93 kg/m², assessed by bioelectrical impedance, classified the presence of sarcopenia. Based on these measurements, the participants were classified into four profiles: neither condition, sarcopenia, obesity, and sarcopenic obesity. Binary logistic regression investigated the association of UI with sarcopenia, obesity, and SO, adjusted for the covariates age, schooling, family income, marital status, hypertension, diabetes, parity, and menopausal status, considering p < 0.05.

A total of 10.7% had no sarcopenia or obesity, 10.7% had only sarcopenia, 69.7% had only obesity and 8.9% had SO. Obesity alone was associated with a higher odss of UI compared to the group with neither conditions (OR = 1.95; p = 0.025). The associations between UI and sarcopenia alone or combined with obesity were not significant.

Obesity alone was associated with UI. The results highlight the need for screening UI symptoms among women with abdominal obesity for early detection and timely interventions.