Women aged 45 to 54 years, including postmenopausal women have a high probability of having overactive bladder (OAB), according to a study reported in the journal Menopause. Obese women and multiparous women had higher odds for developing stress urinary incontinence.

This study investigated the prevalence of urinary symptoms including factors associated with those symptoms in more than 12,000 women. According to the authors, this is the largest study known to investigate more than 10,000 women. Data was obtained from the Japan Nurses Health Study, a prospective occupational cohort study of female nurses and midwives to examine the effects of lifestyle and healthcare practices on womens health.

The prevalence of overactive bladder (OAB) was found to be 9.5%; about 14% of women had stress urinary incontinence, while 2% had mixed urinary incontinence.

The mean age and body mass index (standard deviation, range) were 46.5 (±8.1, 27-82) years and 22.1 (±3.1, 12.9-44.6) kg/m2, respectively. Among women with OAB, 5.4% also had urinary incontinence (OAB-wet), while 4% just had OAB (OAB-dry). A significant correlation was observed between OAB and women aged 45 to 54 years and also in postmenopausal women; however, the symptoms of stress urinary incontinence were infrequently observed after menopause. But multiparous women and those with high body mass index (BMI) (23-27.4 and ≥ 27.5 kg/m2) showed a high prevalence of stress urinary incontinence.

Urinary incontinence is a common problem in postmenopausal women and has a negative impact on  their quality of life. A history of urinary symptoms therefore should routinely be elicited in middle-aged women.

Reference

1. Nagai K, et al. Prevalence and factors associated with overactive bladder and stress urinary incontinence in the Japan Nurses Health Study. Menopause. 2021 Nov 12. doi: 10.1097/GME.0000000000001893.