Urinary incontinence among older adults in Saudi Arabia: prevalence, severity, and associated factors

Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common yet under-recognized condition among older adults, particularly in outpatient settings, where symptoms are often underreported. Despite its significant impact on quality of life, data on the prevalence and clinical factors associated with UI in Saudi Arabian outpatient populations remain limited.

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 290 adults aged > = 60 years attending NGHA outpatient clinics in Riyadh and Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Participants were recruited consecutively during the study period. Urinary incontinence was assessed using the validated Arabic version of the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire - Short Form (ICIQ-SF), and multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors independently associated with urinary incontinence.

Urinary incontinence was reported in 40.3% of participants and was more common among women than men. In multivariable analysis, a history of urinary tract infection was strongly associated with urinary incontinence (AOR 3.73; 95% CI 2.19-6.35; p < 0.001), while benign prostatic hyperplasia was independently associated with urinary incontinence among men (AOR 2.81; 95% CI 1.05-7.49; p = 0.039). Other demographic and clinical variables were not independently associated with urinary incontinence.

Urinary incontinence is common among older adults attending outpatient clinics, with urinary tract infection and benign prostatic hyperplasia identified as key associated factors.