Prevalence and factors associated with overactive bladder and urinary incontinence in community-dwelling Taiwanese

ObjectiveTo assess the prevalence of and factors associated with overactive bladder (OAB) and urinary incontinence (UI) in the Taiwanese community.Materials and MethodsA cross-sectional design with a participant-administered questionnaire was used in 1011 adults who voluntarily visited any of the four public health centers in Pingtung County, Taiwan, for physical examinations from March to July 2010. Participants who were 40 years of age or older, who agreed to participate, and who were free of severe disabilities related to hearing, vision, speaking, and walking were included in the study. OAB was defined as “urgency” at least once a week and a total overactive bladder symptom score of three or more, while UI was defined as involuntary urine leakage at least once a week. People with an active urinary tract infection (UTI) or had a new onset of UTI symptoms (dysuria, frequency, hesitancy, flank pain) within 4 weeks prior to the study, which could interfere with lower urinary tract function, were excluded from this study.ResultsOAB was reported by 19.8% of participants (n = 195; women, 18.7%; men, 19.9%), while UI was reported by 19.5% (n = 197; women, 23.0%; men, 15.5%). OAB was significantly associated with heart disease, stroke, constipation, and UTI in the previous year. UI was significantly associated with constipation and UTI in the previous year.ConclusionsSeveral chronic illnesses coexisted with OAB and UI. Healthcare providers need to be aware of an increased risk of OAB or UI among people with certain chronic illnesses, and provide appropriate healthcare.