Predictors of stress urinary incontinence in women

Introduction and objectives. The aim of this study is to highlight predictors or predisposing factors of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in order to help clinicians during their treatment decisions and establish a preventive strategy to decrease the incontinence rate among women. Materials and methods. We performed a retrospective study over a period of 3 years (January 2012December 2014) in Mureș County Hospital, Clinic of Urology. We examined 113 women with urinary incontinence and we established the following diagnosis: stress urinary incontinence in 68 cases (60%), urge urinary incontinence in 26 cases (23%) and mixed urinary incontinence in 19 cases (17%). The selection criteria for this study were female patients diagnosed with stress urinary incontinence having indication of surgical treatment (transobturator tapeTOT). We included in this study 24 patients admitted in the hospital. Results. Regarding the distribution of the patients depending on age group we observed that SUI was predominant in the 60-69 years age group (12 cases), followed by 70-79 years (6 cases), 50-59 years (4 cases) and 40-49years (2 cases). The mean age was 64,25+/-8,25 (standard deviation) years old with extremities between 41 to 46 years old. For the statistical analysis we applied Fisher’s test, Chi-square test and unpaired test and we compared the group having SIU with a group of 47 patients without the disease. We analyzed the data and we observed that increased age, pregnancies, vaginal delivery, menopause, body mass index (BMI), diabetes and hysterectomy represents risk factors for SUI and that there is a significant relation between SUI and those factors, p<0,05. Statisticaly, we found no relation between caesarian, urinary tract infections, genital prolapse, neurological diseases and SUI, p was insignificant. Conclusions. Stress urinary incontinence is frequent in middle age women. Multiple predictors like age, pregnancy, vaginal delivery, menopause, high body mass index, hysterectomy had been found to be associated with SUI. Recognizing these predisposing factors, we can develop in time prevention techniques which can reduce the development and progression of symptomatology in SUI.