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Prevalence and risk factors for urinary incontinence up to 2 years postpartum: a cross-sectional population-based study

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Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis

Urinary incontinence (UI) is common in the postpartum period; however, most studies focus on the early postpartum period and assess prevalence at only one or two time points. We hypothesized that UI would be prevalent across the first 2 years postpartum. Our secondary objective was to evaluate risk factors for postpartum UI among a nationally representative, contemporary sample.

Methods

This cross-sectional, population-based study used National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2011–2018) data for parous women within 24 months following delivery. Prevalence of UI, UI subtypes, and severity were estimated. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds (aOR) of UI for exposures of interest.

Results

Among 560 postpartum women, prevalence of any UI was 43.5%. Stress UI was most common (28.7%), and most women (82.8%) experienced mild symptoms. There was no significant change in prevalence of UI across the 24 months following delivery (R2 = 0.004). Individuals with postpartum UI tended to be older (30.3 ± 0.5 versus 28.8 ± 0.5 years) and had higher BMI (31.1 ± 0.6 versus 28.9 ± 0.6). In multivariate analysis, odds of postpartum UI were higher for women who had had a prior vaginal delivery (aOR 2.0, 95% CI: 1.3–3.3), prior delivery of a baby weighing 9 lb (4 kg) or more (aOR 2.5, 95% CI: 1.3–4.8), or who reported current smoking (aOR 1.5, 95% CI: 1.0–2.3).

Conclusions

During the first 2 years postpartum 43.5% of women report UI, with relatively stable prevalence over this period. This high prevalence supports screening for UI after delivery regardless of risk factors.

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Data Availability

The data used for this study are publicly available at https://wwwn.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/Default.aspx.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Canada

    Kyra Bonasia & Aisling Clancy

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dalhousie University, 5980 University Avenue, P.O. Box 9700, Halifax, NS, 5850B3K 6R8, Canada

    Jocelyn Stairs

Authors
  1. Kyra Bonasia
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  2. Aisling Clancy
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  3. Jocelyn Stairs
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Contributions

K. Bonasia: project development, manuscript writing; A. Clancy: project development, manuscript editing; J. Stairs: project development, data management, data analysis, manuscript editing.

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Correspondence to Jocelyn Stairs.

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Bonasia, K., Clancy, A. & Stairs, J. Prevalence and risk factors for urinary incontinence up to 2 years postpartum: a cross-sectional population-based study. Int Urogynecol J 34, 2467–2472 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-023-05571-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-023-05571-9

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