Association Between the Cholesterol-High-Density Lipoprotein-Glucose Index and Urinary Incontinence: A Prospective...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Epidemiology
• Metabolic Health

Background:

• Urinary incontinence (UI) is a prevalent condition affecting middle-aged and older adults, significantly impacting quality of life.
• The cholesterol-high-density lipoprotein-glucose (CHG) index, a composite metabolic marker, has not been extensively studied in relation to UI risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between the CHG index and the incidence of subsequent UI in middle-aged and older adults.
• To evaluate the predictive value of the CHG index for 4-year UI risk.

Main Methods:

• Prospective cohort study involving 2059 participants without UI at baseline, followed from Wave 2 to Wave 7.
• Cox proportional hazards models, restricted cubic splines, and subgroup analyses were used to assess the CHG index-UI relationship.
• A 4-year UI prediction model was developed using LASSO and Cox regression.

Main Results:

• A total of 308 participants (14.96%) developed UI during follow-up.
• Higher CHG index levels were independently associated with a reduced risk of subsequent UI (HR 0.82 per SD increase).
• The CHG index showed moderate predictive performance (AUC 0.663) and modestly improved UI risk prediction models.

Conclusions:

• Elevated CHG index levels are independently associated with a lower risk of developing urinary incontinence in older adults.
• The CHG index may serve as a complementary tool for early UI risk stratification in this demographic.
• The CHG index is not a standalone predictor and should be used alongside other clinical factors.