SAN FRANCISCO—Obesity and central obesity may increase a person’s risks for urinary incontinence (UI) and overactive bladder (OAB), H. Henry Lai, MD, of Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, reported at the American Urological Association’s 2018 annual meeting.
Among 456 men and 464 women (mean age 59 years) seeking treatment for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), 67% had UI and 65% had OAB. Additionally, 60% had central obesity, 43% were obese (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m2 or higher), 65% had hypertension, 32% had dyslipidemia, 17% had diabetes, and 82% were white.
After multivariable logistic regression analyses, Dr Lai’s team found that only obesity and central obesity (age and race adjusted) were significantly associated with the presence of any UI and OAB. Individuals who are obese and those with central obesity have 1.4- and 1.7-fold greater odds of urinary incontinence (UI), respectively, and 1.4- and 1.9-fold greater odds of urge UI.
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Among women, the odds of stress UI and OAB were increased 2.0 and 2.5 times, respectively, for those with central obesity and 1.9 and 1.6 times, respectively, for those general obesity. Either form of obese was associated with more than quadruple the risks for OAB with urge UI.
“Urinary incontinence and overactive bladder are associated with central obesity and high BMI among men and women seeking treatment for their lower urinary tract symptoms,” Dr Lai told Renal & Urology News. “Strategies to overcome obesity may be helpful for patients with urinary incontinence or overactive bladder.”
Dr Lai recommended that future studies investigate the mechanistic links between OAB/UI and obesity.
Reference
Lai HH, Helmuth ME, Smith AR, et al. Relationships between metabolic factors, urinary incontinence, and overactive bladder symptoms among men and women in the LURN observational cohort study. Presented at the American Urological Association’s 2018 annual meeting in San Francisco, May 18–21. Poster MP27-14.
