Central Adiposity Is More Strongly Associated With Stress Urinary Incontinence Than BMI: A Comparative NHANES...

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Obesity Research
• Women's Health

Background:

• Obesity is a known risk factor for stress urinary incontinence (SUI).
• The distinct roles of central versus overall adiposity in SUI risk are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between central adiposity (waist-to-height ratio, WHtR) and overall adiposity (body mass index, BMI) with SUI in adult women.
• To determine if WHtR is a stronger predictor of SUI than BMI.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional analysis of 5,445 adult women from the NHANES 2011-2018 cycles.
• SUI defined by self-reported leakage during exertion, coughing, or sneezing.
• Multivariable logistic regression adjusted for age, diabetes, smoking, parity, menopausal status, and physical activity.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of SUI was 26.4% in the study population.
• Both WHtR and BMI were independently associated with SUI.
• WHtR showed a stronger association with SUI than BMI; a 0.1 unit increase in WHtR raised SUI odds by 30% versus 4% for a 1 kg/m² BMI increase.

Conclusions:

• Central adiposity, measured by WHtR, is more strongly associated with SUI than overall adiposity.
• Integrating WHtR into clinical assessments could improve SUI risk stratification and identify candidates for targeted interventions.