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Risk factors for stress and urge urinary incontinence during pregnancy and the first year postpartum: a prospective longitudinal study

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Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis

We examined obstetric and maternal-newborn factors and UI history for stress urinary incontinence (UI) and urge UI during pregnancy and the first year postpartum.

Methods

This prospective cohort study included 1447 pregnant women who underwent prenatal examinations and completed an Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form before pregnancy, during early, mid- and late pregnancy, and at five visits during the first year postpartum. Data were analyzed using univariate/multivariate generalized estimating equation (GEE) logistic regression analyses.

Results

The prevalence rates of stress UI during late pregnancy (42.5%) and urge UI at 3–5 days postpartum (10.4%) were the highest throughout pregnancy and the first year postpartum. After adjusting for covariates, gestational age increased the risks of stress UI (p < 0.001) and urge UI (p = 0.003); stress UI during pre-pregnancy, number of previous vaginal deliveries and concurrent high body mass index (BMI) increased stress UI (all p < 0.05); urge UI during pre-pregnancy and full-time work increased urge UI (both p < 0.05) during pregnancy. During the postpartum period, vaginal delivery increased stress UI (p < 0.001) and urge UI (p = 0.041); stress UI during pre-pregnancy and pregnancy, women aged ≥ 30 years and vacuum extraction/forceps delivery increased stress UI (all p < 0.05). Urge UI during early, mid- and late pregnancy increased stress UI (all p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Gestational age increased stress and urge UI, while previous vaginal deliveries and high BMI increased stress UI; full-time work increased urge UI during pregnancy. Vaginal delivery increased both UIs, and vacuum/forceps delivery and maternal age increased stress UI during postpartum.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by a grant from the Ministry of Science and Technology of Taiwan. The authors thank MS. Yi-Wen Wang for data collection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Section 1, Jen-Ai Road, 100, Taipei, Taiwan

    Shiow-Ru Chang

  2. Department of Nursing, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    Shiow-Ru Chang

  3. Department of Occupational Medicine, Ten-Chan General Hospital, Taoyuang, Taiwan

    Wei-An Lin

  4. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    Ting-Chen Chang

  5. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Taiwan University and National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    Ho-Hsiung Lin & Chien-Nan Lee

  6. Department of Pediatrics, Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    Ming-I Lin

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  1. Shiow-Ru Chang
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Contributions

SR Chang: Project development, data collection and management, manuscript writing.

WA Lin: Data management and analysis.

TC Chang: Data collection and manuscript preparation.

HH Lin: Data collection and manuscript preparation.

CN Lee: Data collection and manuscript preparation.

MI Lin: Manuscript preparation.

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Correspondence to Shiow-Ru Chang.

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Chang, SR., Lin, WA., Chang, TC. et al. Risk factors for stress and urge urinary incontinence during pregnancy and the first year postpartum: a prospective longitudinal study. Int Urogynecol J 32, 2455–2464 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-021-04788-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-021-04788-w

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