Epidemiology

Urinary incontinence is a common condition that affects over 60% of community dwelling women worldwide.[3]​​[4]​ In the US, studies show the prevalence of any urinary incontinence in women aged 20 years or over is 53% to 60%: 26% to 37.5% of women had stress incontinence only; 10% to 22% had urgency incontinence only; and 16% to 31.3% had mixed urinary incontinence.[3][5]​​ A study on different racial/ethnic groups within the US determined that stress and mixed urinary incontinence were significantly less prevalent in black versus white women; however, there was no significant difference in prevalence of urgency urinary incontinence between the groups.[6]

Prevalence of urinary incontinence increases with age.[7][8]​​ Prevalence tends to increase gradually during adult life (affecting 10% of women aged 20 to 24 years), reaching a plateau between 50 and 70 years, and then steadily increasing again after 70 years.[9][10]​ The prevalence of stress incontinence peaks in the fifth decade of life, whereas the prevalence of both mixed and urgency incontinence continues to increase with age.[11]​ One study investigating prevalence of urinary incontinence among women in long-term care institutions in various countries found similar prevalence rates, ranging from 43% to 65%, across seven countries in Europe and the US.[12] However, many population studies exist, with considerable variation in the estimated incidence and prevalence reported.[13]

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