Risk Factors and Quality of Life in Women with Urinary Incontinence in Kazakhstan: A Multicenter Case-Control Study

Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common condition that affects women's physical, psychological, and social well-being. Evidence from Central Asia remains limited. This study assessed factors associated with UI, its subtypes, and quality-of-life impairment among women in Kazakhstan.

A multicenter age-matched case-control study was conducted from February to May 2025 in healthcare facilities across Kazakhstan. The study included 2061 women. Sociodemographic, obstetric, lifestyle, comorbidity, and symptom data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Quality of life was assessed using Kazakh and Russian versions of the Incontinence Quality of Life Questionnaire (I-QOL). Multivariable logistic regression with backward elimination identified factors independently associated with UI.

UI was identified in 687 women (33.3%). Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) was the most common subtype (n = 356; 51.8%), followed by urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) (n = 191; 27.8%) and mixed urinary incontinence (MUI) (n = 140; 20.4%). UI was independently associated with vaginal delivery (OR = 1.48), multiple birth (OR = 2.26), macrosomia (OR = 1.83), and BMI ≥ 25 kg/m² (OR = 2.08). UUI showed the greatest burden, including the lowest total I-QOL score [36.4 (23.9-88.6)].

UI in Kazakhstan was mainly associated with obstetric and metabolic factors, supporting targeted prevention through weight management, antenatal care, and early pelvic floor assessment.