Sarcopenia and Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Urology
• Musculoskeletal Health

Background:

• Female lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are prevalent, particularly in aging populations.
• Sarcopenia, characterized by age-related muscle mass and strength loss, is increasingly recognized as a significant health concern.
• The interplay between sarcopenia and LUTS in women requires systematic investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review evidence on the association between sarcopenia and female LUTS.
• To explore epidemiological findings, pathophysiological mechanisms, and clinical implications.
• To synthesize current knowledge for improved risk stratification and management.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search of PubMed (January 2010 - June 2026) adhering to PRISMA 2020 guidelines.
• Inclusion of observational studies on sarcopenia, muscle parameters, or frailty and female LUTS.
• Narrative synthesis of extracted data and methodological quality assessment using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

Main Results:

• Twenty studies were included, predominantly cross-sectional, involving community-dwelling or older women.
• Significant associations found between sarcopenia and stress urinary incontinence, urgency urinary incontinence (UUI), overactive bladder, nocturia, and overall LUTS burden.
• Trunk muscle deficiency, sarcopenic obesity, and frailty identified as contributors to specific LUTS subtypes.

Conclusions:

• Sarcopenia is associated with a wide range of female LUTS via mechanisms including pelvic floor dysfunction, trunk muscle deficiency, sarcopenic obesity, and frailty.
• Assessing muscle health can enhance risk stratification and guide multidisciplinary LUTS management.
• Further longitudinal studies are needed to establish causality and evaluate sarcopenia interventions for urinary outcomes.