The prevalence of urinary incontinence

Figures & data

Table 1. Population-based prevalence rates for female urinary incontinence (UI) in studies sampling more than one country.

Study	Method	Age (years)	Country	Sample	UI	Prevalence (%)
Hunskaar et al., 2004^6	Postal	18+	France	3881	All UI	44
					SUI	13.6
					UUI	11.9
					MUI	15.0
			Germany	3824	All UI	41
					SUI	16.4
					UUI	6.6
					MUI	15.6
			Spain	6444	All UI	23
					SUI	9.0
					UUI	4.8
					MUI	6.0
			UK	2931	All UI	42
					SUI	17.2
					UUI	6.7
					MUI	14.3
Irwin et al., 2006^7	Direct or telephone interview	18+	Sweden	19,165	All UI	29.5
			Italy		All UI	9.3
			Canada		All UI	13.0
			Germany		All UI	11.4
			UK		All UI	14.9
Coyne et al., 2009^8	Web based	40+	USA	10,584	All UI	67.0
					SUI	23.1
					UUI	6.7
					MUI	21.1
			UK	3983	All UI	69.0
					SUI	28.6
					UUI	7.1
					MUI	19.6
			Sweden	1293	All UI	67.1
					SUI	26.9
					UUI	7.9
					MUI	16.2

UUI, urge urinary incontinence; MUI, mixed urinary incontinence; SUI, stress urinary incontinence.

Figure 1. Comparison of the prevalence of urinary incontinence in two population-based studies of Swedish women. The study by Samuelsson et al.⁹ was performed in a rural area and the study by Simeonova et al.¹⁰ was performed in an inner city.

Figure 2. Comparison of the prevalence of urinary incontinence in women and men of the same age resident in the same urban population. Data from two population-based studies which included 7459 women¹¹ and 7763 men¹².

Table 2. Risk factors for urinary incontinence.

Risk factor

Age

Parity

Hereditary factors

Pregnancy

Hysterectomy

Delivery mode

Concurrent prolapse

Anal sphincter rupture

Irritable bowel syndrome

Postmenopausal

Ethnicity

Multiple sclerosis

Dementia

Parkinson’s illness

Obesity

Physical activity

Neurological illnesses

Diabetes mellitus

Urinary tract infections

Table 3. Estimated number of individuals with urinary incontinence by year and sex.

	Male			Female
Urinary incontinence	2008	2013	2018	2008	2013	2018
Any	98	109	120	250	275	301
Urge	22	25	27	27	30	33
Mixed	11	12	14	43	47	52
Stress	10	12	13	127	140	153
Other	55	61	66	53	58	64

Based on data from Irwin et al.².

Table 4. Global estimates of individuals with urinary incontinence grouped by year and region.

	Urinary incontinence
Region	2008	2013	2018
World	346	383	420
Africa	33	38	43
North America	32	34	37
South America	20	22	24
Asia	206	231	256
Europe	54	56	57

Based on data from Irwin et al.².

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