Incidence and Remission of Female Urinary Incontinence Over 6.5 Years: Analysis of a Health Screening Project

ObjectivesTo analyse the incidence and remission of female urinary incontinence (UI) over 6.5 years and to identify risk factors for the development of UI.MethodsWomen who underwent a health investigation in 1998 or 1999 in the area of Vienna completed the Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms questionnaire. In 2005, all women (n = 925) aged ≥20 yr in 1999 who were still living in the area of Vienna were invited to recomplete the questionnaire.ResultsThe response rate was 47.7% (n = 441; age range, 20–84 yr), and the mean follow-up was 6.5 yr. The overall prevalence of UI was 32% at baseline and increased to 43% in 6.5 years. The mean annual cumulative incidence of UI was 3.9%, with the lowest rate (2.3%) in the youngest age group (20–39 yr) and the highest (7.3%) in those aged 70 yr or older. The mean annual full remission rate was 2.9%, with no clear age dependency. More than half (55.6%) of the women with a full remission had only a mild form of UI at baseline. In a multivariate analysis, urgency (p = 0.008) and age (p = 0.024) were correlated to the risk of de novo UI.ConclusionsThis longitudinal study demonstrates that UI is not necessarily a progressive process but rather is a dynamic one.