Prevalence and factors associated with urinary incontinence in climacteric

Prevalência e fatores associados à incontinência urinária no climatério

SUMMARY

Objective:

To estimate the prevalence and identify associated factors to urinary incontinence (UI) in climacteric women.

Method:

In a cross-sectional study with a stratified random sample, 1,200 women aged between 35 and 72 years were studied, enrolled in the Family Health Strategy in the city of Pindamonhangaba, São Paulo. Urinary incontinence was investigated using the International Consultation of Incontinence Questionnaire - Short Form, while associated factors were assessed based on a self-reported questionnaire with socio-demographic, obstetric and gynecological history, morbidities and drug use. The prevalence of urinary incontinence was estimated with a 95% confidence interval (95CI) and the associated factors were identified through multiple logistic regression model performed using Stata software, version 11.0.

Results:

Women had a mean age of 51.9 years, most were in menopause (59.4%), married (87.5%), Catholic (48.9%), and declared themselves black or brown (47.2%). The mean age of menopause of women with UI was 47.3 years. The prevalence of UI was 20.4% (95CI: 17.8-23.1%). The factors associated with UI were urinary loss during pregnancy (p=0.000) and after delivery (p=0.000), genital prolapse (p=0.000), stress (p=0.001), depression (p=0.002), and obesity (p=0.006).

Conclusion:

The prevalence of UI was lower but similar to that found in most similar studies. Factors associated with the genesis of UI were urinary loss during pregnancy and after delivery, genital prolapse and obesity.

Keywords
prevalence; urinary incontinence; climacteric; health surveys

RESUMO

Objetivo:

estimar a prevalência e identificar os possíveis fatores associados à incontinência urinária (IU) em mulheres no climatério.

Método:

em estudo analítico transversal com amostra aleatória estratificada, foram estudadas 1.200 mulheres, entre 35 e 72 anos, cadastradas na Estratégia de Saúde da Família do município de Pindamonhangaba, SP. A IU foi investigada por meio do International Consultation of Incontinence Questionnaire – Short Form e os fatores associados, por meio de questionário autorreferido, contendo informações sociodemográficas, história ginecológica e obstétrica, morbidades e uso de medicamentos. Estimou-se a prevalência da incontinência urinária com intervalo de confiança de 95% (IC95%), e os fatores associados foram identificados por meio de um modelo de regressão logística múltipla realizada no Programa Stata, versão 11.0.

Resultados:

as mulheres apresentavam média etária de 51,9 anos, estavam na menopausa (59,4%), eram casadas (87,5%), católicas (48,9%) e declararam-se negras ou pardas (47,2%). A média de idade da menopausa das mulheres com IU foi de 47,3 anos. A prevalência de IU foi de 20,4% (IC95%: 17,8-23,1). Os fatores associados à IU foram perda urinária na gestação (p=0,000) e no pós-parto (p=0,000), prolapso genital (p=0,000), estresse (p=0,001), depressão (p=0,002) e obesidade (p=0,006).

Conclusão:

a prevalência de IU foi inferior, mas semelhante à encontrada na maioria dos estudos análogos. Os fatores associados à gênese da IU foram perda urinária na gestação e no pós-parto, prolapso genital e obesidade.

Palavras-chave
prevalência; incontinência urinária; climatério; inquéritos epidemiológicos

INTRODUCTION

Women’s health in the climacteric has been widely investigated and discussed, not only because of clinical repercussions that affect the quality of life of women, but also for the significant impact on public health.

Climacteric results from ovarian follicular depletion, with consequent reduction in the production of estrogen, during which time women may experience uncomfortable symptoms such as hot flashes, mood disorders, insomnia, skin and mucosal atrophy, and serious health problems such as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis1 and genitourinary disorders, including vaginal, sexual and urinary symptoms such as urinary incontinence (UI).2

Estimates of prevalence of UI vary considerably, ranging from 12 to 51%, depending on the concept of UI, research methodologies, inclusion criteria, such as age and ethnicity, and type of incontinence studied.3^-7 In Brazil, data on prevalence of UI in middle aged women usually relate to stress UI (SUI), reaching 8 to 48%.8^-14

Moreover, there is a disturbing economic impact on the health system, seen, for example, in the costs in Brazil in 2014; the total spent on women between 30 and 59 years totaled more than BRL 2 billion, and of these, BRL 183 million were directed to genitourinary diseases. Surgeries for female genital prolapse, one of the causes of UI included in the ICD-10, generated in 2014 a cost of BRL 15.8 million (8.7%).15

It is thus clear that, although the disease does not constitute risk for women,16 UI promotes significant impact on their quality of life and the health system in Brazil.17 Therefore, it is important to know the factors associated with the appearance of the UI, aiming to develop prevention strategies in primary health care.

METHOD

In this cross-sectional study, a population group of women aged 35 to 72 years was studied based on the Projeto de Saúde de Pindamonhangaba (Prosapin) database. The Prosapin I began operating in 2007 after a scientific technical cooperation agreement signed in 2014 with the Municipal Health Department (MHD) of Pindamonhangaba. The present Prosapin II (2014) was approved by the Ethics in Research Committee of FSP/USP,18 and included a probability sample selected using systematic sampling procedure. The sample was composed of women between 35 and 65 years enrolled in a Family Health Program (FHP) of Pindamonhangaba, initially sorted according to age and the health unit where they were enrolled. In 2014, according to the Health Department, the city had a basic health care network consisting of 21 family health teams that gave coverage to 39.9% of the population.19^,20

Thus, 1,200 women participated in the project, with some belonging to Prosapin I (2007) and in the same age range, plus new participants selected in 2014. After excluding 202 women, 998 were interviewed. The reasons for exclusion were cognitive problems, changes of address and death.

The UI variable was investigated using the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire – Short Form (ICIQ-SF) which assesses the presence and possible situations of involuntary loss of urine, and the impact of UI in the previous month.21 The ICIQ-SF comprises four items: (1) urinary frequency; (2) volume; (3) impact of UI on daily life (“0” none, “1 to 3” mild, “4 to 6” moderate, “7 to 9” severe, “10” very severe); (4) urinary symptoms.22 The ICIQ-SF ranges from 0 to 21 points, and all women whose total score was greater than or equal to 1 were considered incontinent.

Anthropometric measurements (weight, height) and interviews were conducted to obtain information on sociodemographic characteristics, gynecological history and medication use that could interfere with bladder functioning. Morbidities were also investigated using validated instruments for depression (Beck Depression Inventory),23 stress (Stress Symptoms Inventory),24 obesity (World Health Organization obesity classification),25 genital prolapse (International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire – Vaginal Symptoms).26

A database was constructed on Microsoft Office Excel 2008, to store the collected data. The prevalence of UI in postmenopausal women was estimated within a 95% confidence interval. Bivariate analyzes were conducted to identify possible factors associated with the dependent variables. A multiple logistic regression model was constructed to estimate the net weight of each independent variable.

RESULTS

The mean age of the women was 51.9 years (SD=8.8 years) and the mean age at menopause of the women with UI was 47.3 years (SD=5.8 years). There was a higher proportion of women aged 55 or older (39.3%); 59.4% were in menopause, 84.4% were married, Catholic 57.8%, and 48.7% declared themselves as white. With regard to formal education, more than a third studied until the fourth grade (primary education), and more than half studied up to six years. With regard to occupation, more than half were active (51.1%), mainly in domestic services (66.8%). Only 3.5% were retired or pensioners, and 45% earned the minimum wage or less.

The prevalence of UI was 20.4% (95CI: 17.8-23.1%). The mean age of onset of UI was 48 years (SD=10.8 years), ranging from 20 to 70 years. As for types of urine leakage, mixed incontinence was the most frequent (19.2%), followed by stress incontinence (15.9%) and urge incontinence (14.6%).

Considering socio-demographic factors, only skin color was positively associated with UI (p=0.036). An inverse association was observed for education level above the high school (p=0.036) and having seven or more years of study (p=0.019). Age showed no relationship with UI in our study.

Obstetric factors that are positively associated with UI included pregnancy (p=0.000) and post-partum (p=0.000) incontinence, three or more pregnancies (p=0.001), and giving birth to children weighing more than 3.5 kg (p=0.015). As for gynecological history, recurrent urinary tract infection (p=0.000), gynecologic surgery (p=0.002) and a family history of UI (0.017) were positively associated with urinary loss. The association between UI and parity, mode of delivery, use of forceps, performing episiotomies and menopause was not observed.

The presence of genital prolapse (p=0.000), vaginal symptoms (p=0.000), stress (p=0.000), obesity (p=0.008), depression (p=0.000) and anxiety (p=0.000) was positively associated with involuntary loss of urine. The use of drugs was also associated with UI, especially when equal to or greater than three drugs (p=0.000), in addition to drugs that may influence bladder function (p=0.012).

Based on logistic regression model (Table 1), we can observe that menopause was not associated with UI, unlike variables such as pregnancy (p=0.000) and post-partum (p=0.000) incontinence, genital prolapse (p=0.000), obesity (p=0.006), stress (p=0.001) and depression (p=0.002).

TABLE 1
Logistic regression model between urinary incontinence and the epidemiological and clinical variables of women at Prosapin, Pindamonhangaba, 2014.

	UI
	OR	(95CI)	p	OR*	(95CI)	p
Menopause	1.16	(0.83 - 1.62)	0.365	1.24	0.84 - 1.82	0.268
UI, pregnancy	4.41	(2.88 -6.74)	0.000	2.58	1.59 - 4.18	0.000
UI, post-partum	6.90	(3.30 - 14.41)	0.000	5.66	2.45 - 13.09	0.000
Genital prolapse	3.92	(2.79 - 5.51)	0.000	2.53	1.71 - 3.75	0.000
Stress	3.81	(2.53 - 5.74)	0.000	2.34	1.43 - 3.84	0.001
Depression	3.68	(2.57 - 5.29)	0.000	1.96	1.28 - 3.01	0.002
Obesity	1.83	(1.17 - 2.86)	0.008	1.68	1.15 - 2.43	0.006

• UI: urinary incontinence; OR: odds ratio; 95CI: 95% confidence interval;
• ^*
  OR adjust: odds ratio adjusted according to the remaining variables in the table.

DISCUSSION

Although UI is considered a major health problem, public policies are still occult.

The prevalence of UI in our study was 20.4%, similar to the 25 to 51% of most studies with similar sample sizes including women in the same age range.4^,27^-29 Only the study by Misha et al.1 had a lower prevalence and reached 11%.

In Brazil, the literature is scarce in investigations involving epidemiological data on UI, which generally relate to the specific type of chronic SUI, with prevalence ranging from 15 to 35%.8^,10^,14^,30 In our study, SUI affected 15.9% of climacteric women and was similar to the population findings by Brito et al.8

With regard to factors associated with UI, the literature is controversial and often shows association between UI and socio-demographic data such as age, education and race; obstetric factors such as pregnancy, multiparity, type of delivery, newborn weight; gynecological factors such as gynecological surgeries and menopausal status; and morbidities such as diabetes mellitus and obesity.1^,4^,27^-31 The bivariate analysis performed in our study showed a positive association with education, skin color, pregnancy, gynecologic surgery, which was not confirmed in the logistic regression. Our findings are in line with those documented by Brito et al.8 and Guarisi et al.,14 who also found no association between UI and socioeconomic and reproductive factors.

We noted that UI in climacteric women was associated with urinary loss complaints during pregnancy and after childbirth, and also vaginal dystopia, depression, stress and obesity.

With regard to pregnancy UI, even though the mechanism of pelvic dysfunction is not completely understood, it is believed that initiating a pregnancy while being overweight or obese,32 on top of the additional weight that can be put on in this period, may lead to UI caused by tension, stretching or weakening of the tissues in the pelvic floor,29 increase in intra-abdominal pressure, and pudendal nerve dysfunction.33

Furthermore, the uterine growth coupled with endocrine changes, such as increasing progesterone, reduced relaxin and collagen may contribute to the reduction of muscle strength and support of the local sphincter function.34 Moreover, the mode of delivery may determine different degrees of muscle, nerve and connective tissue injury with increased risk of genital dystopia and involuntary loss of urine throughout life.35

Despite evidence showing that pelvic floor dysfunction arise in part from changes determined by the pregnancy and delivery,36^-39 our study failed to confirm this association and signaled that only the involuntary loss of urine during and after delivery are associated with a higher prevalence of UI. Liang et al.40 admit that the musculoskeletal structural adjustments of pregnancy and the anatomical and functional alterations of the pelvic floor that occur during the second stage of labor can gradually regress, thus returning to pre-pregnancy state, with partial or complete restoration of the mechanism of urinary continence.

Hilde et al.,41 in turn, report that soon after vaginal delivery, in addition to the reduced vaginal tonus, strength and endurance of the pelvic floor, the floor of the continents mothers is much stronger than in those with UI in the same period. Involuntary loss of urine seems to be independent of the type of delivery,43 it can occur between two and twelve months after delivery42 and persist for many years.36

Our study showed a clear association between UI and genital dystopia, a result similar to those found in other studies.44^-47 Genital dystopia is characterized by herniation of the pelvic and/or intraperitoneal content into the vaginal canal.48 It is a common injury in older multiparous women. It occurs due to relaxation of pelvic floor structures caused either by estrogen deficiency or aging, and results in the inability to maintain the pelvic organs in their normal position.49

Most women with UI in our study were multiparous, in menopause, and gave birth vaginally; their mean age was 52.8 years. While all of these factors can contribute to UI, multiple logistic regression shows that only pregnancy and parity were not associated with it.

Our results reveal that about 40% of women with UI had BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m², which is similar to the findings of other studies based on evidence that obesity affects sphincter control.1^,33^,50^-52 Women with very high BMI scores33^,53 and weight gain during perimenopause54 have a higher risk of UI, which can be reduced as soon as the excess weight is lost.33

Pathophysiological mechanisms of obesity leading to UI primarily include those of mechanical and/or neuroendocrine nature. The explanatory sequence would be obesity, increased intra-abdominal pressure, increased intravesical pressure, increased muscle tension in the pelvic floor, changes in muscle ligamentous structures and urethral mobility, stimulus by the afferent response of the bladder to the central nervous system, and onset of urinary symptoms such as urgency, frequency and probably incontinence.53^,55^,56

We showed that stress and depression were associated with UI, possibly due to embarrassment and social isolation caused by urinary loss.57

From the above, it is understood that the present study may contribute as an epidemiological reference in Brazilian literature and allow the targeting of interventions already in primary care.

Considering the magnitude of the problem, our study deserves special attention, because the population included reflects the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of a large proportion of women living in small and medium-sized cities in the state of São Paulo and Brazil. Also, we must consider that in 2014 the FHP covered on average 59.8% of the Brazilian population15 and almost all of the country’s municipalities (95%) are small or medium,19 which reinforces the importance of our study.

CONCLUSION

Prevalence of UI was lower but similar to that found in most similar studies. Factors associated with the onset of UI included pregnancy and post-partum incontinence, genital prolapse and obesity, while consequences included depression and stress. Proper understanding of urinary incontinence in climacteric will certainly contribute to propose preventive strategies in primary health care. Therefore, early intervention, as soon as in prenatal care, in order to preserve pelvic floor function in climacteric should always be considered.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

To the Department of Health in Pindamonhangaba, SP, Brazil; Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (Fapesp), São Paulo; Universidade de Taubaté (Unitau), Taubaté, SP, Brazil; and the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (Capes).

• Study conducted at Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo (FSP/USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
• Study linked to the Projeto de Saúde de Pindamonhangaba (Prosapin), funded by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (Fapesp), Process no 13/00302-7.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  Aug 2016

History

• Received
  31 May 2015
• Accepted
  08 June 2015