Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41081813›Full record

ArticleInternational urogynecology journal2026

Post-Pandemic Prevalence of Urinary Incontinence Among Women in the United States and Associated Risk Factors.

Raymond Che, Ruth Simpson, Zain Akbar, Kelli Gilliam, Ahmed Ahmed, Bilal Farhan

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Article in International urogynecology journal, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Raymond CheUniversity of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA. raymond_che@alumni.brown.edu.ORCID 0009-0001-6602-2961
Ruth SimpsonUniversity of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
Zain AkbarUniversity of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
Kelli GilliamUniversity of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
Ahmed AhmedSchool of Medicine, Aswan University, Aswan, Egypt.
Bilal FarhanUniversity of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introduction and hypothesisUrinary incontinence (UI) is a significant health concern among women in the USA and is often underdiagnosed. Prevalence has increased over recent decades. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted national survey data collection, creating a gap in updated prevalence estimates.

methodsWe analyzed publicly available data from the 2021-2023 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Our study included women aged ≥ 20 years who completed incontinence-related survey items (n = 2834). Outcomes included stress (SUI), urgency (UUI), and mixed incontinence (MUI). Analyses were weighted to provide nationally representative estimates. Multivariable logistic regression stratified by age (<50 vs ≥50 years) was used to identify independent risk factors.

resultsThe crude prevalence of UI was 63%, representing approximately 79.6 million US women. Age-adjusted prevalence was 47.6%. Over 40% of women with each UI subtype reported "moderate" to "very severe" UI symptoms. Functional dependence was a consistent predictor of all subtypes across age groups. Among younger women, SUI was associated with current pregnancy, multiparity, and obesity. In older women, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease predicted SUI and MUI, whereas cardiovascular conditions were linked to UUI and MUI. "Moderately severe" or "severe" depressive symptoms were associated with UUI in both age groups. Prediabetic hemoglobin A1c was associated with SUI and MUI in older women only.

conclusionUrinary incontinence remains prevalent and symptomatically burdensome among US women. Age-specific risk profiles underscore the importance of tailored screening and management. Addressing functional and mental health, as well as ensuring equitable access to urological care, will be critical priorities as the US population ages.

Indexed as

COVID-19Urinary IncontinenceAdultAgedAge FactorsFemaleHumansMiddle AgedNutrition SurveysPrevalenceRisk FactorsSARS-CoV-2United StatesUrinary Incontinence, UrgeYoung AdultPrevalenceRiskUrinary incontinenceWomen’s health

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.