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Caffeine and urinary incontinence in US women

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Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis

The goal of this study was to characterize associations between caffeine consumption and severity of urinary incontinence (UI) in US women. We hypothesized that moderate and high caffeine intake would be associated with UI in US women when controlling for other factors associated with UI.

Methods

US women participated in the 2005–2006 and 2007–2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a cross-sectional, nationally representative survey. Using the Incontinence Severity Index, UI was categorized as “any” and “moderate/severe”. Types of UI included stress, urge, mixed, and other. Food diaries were completed, and average water (grams/day), total dietary moisture (grams/day), and caffeine (milligrams/day) intake were calculated into quartiles. Stepwise logistic regression models were constructed adjusting for sociodemographics, chronic diseases, body mass index, self-rated health, depression, physical activity, alcohol use, dietary water and moisture intake, and reproductive factors.

Results

From the 4,309 nonpregnant women (aged ≥20 years) who had complete UI and dietary data, UI prevalence for any UI was 41.0 % and 16.5 % for moderate/severe UI, with stress UI the most common type (36.6 %). Women consumed a mean caffeine intake of 126.7 mg/day. After adjusting for multiple factors, caffeine intake in the highest quartile (≥204 mg/day) was associated with any UI [prevalence odds ratio (POR) 1.47, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.07–2.01], but not moderate/severe UI (POR 1.42, 95 % CI 0.98–2.07). Type of UI (stress, urgency, mixed) was not associated with caffeine intake.

Conclusions

Caffeine intake ≥204 mg/day was associated with any UI but not with moderate/severe UI in US women.

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Financial support or funding

Partially funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases 2 K24-DK068389 to HER and a Department of Veterans Affairs Career Development Award-2 to ADM.

Conflicts of interest

None

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Urogynecology and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1700 6th Avenue South, Suite 10382, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA

    Jonathan L. Gleason & Holly E. Richter

  2. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, AL, USA

    David T. Redden, Patricia S. Goode, Kathryn L. Burgio & Alayne D. Markland

  3. Department of Medicine, Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA

    Patricia S. Goode, Kathryn L. Burgio & Alayne D. Markland

  4. School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA

    David T. Redden

Authors
  1. Jonathan L. Gleason
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  2. Holly E. Richter
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  3. David T. Redden
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  4. Patricia S. Goode
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  5. Kathryn L. Burgio
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  6. Alayne D. Markland
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jonathan L. Gleason.

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Gleason, J.L., Richter, H.E., Redden, D.T. et al. Caffeine and urinary incontinence in US women. Int Urogynecol J 24, 295–302 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-012-1829-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-012-1829-5

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