The epidemiology and etiology of incontinence and voiding dysfunction

I. INTRODUCTION Urinary incontinence among women is a prevalent condition with a signi?cant in?uence on well-being. Approximately one third of all women have involuntary leakage of urine; 10% have incontinence at least weekly, and 5% have incontinence daily [1-3]. Incontinence is so common in elderly patients that it is often mistakenly viewed as a consequence of aging and an inevitable problem with which women must contend. Incontinence, however, is also a problem among younger women in the community and in those younger women with particular medical problems [4,5]. Many factors, such as age, childbirth, parity, bowel dysfunction, obstetric complications, obesity, pelvic surgery, medications, functional impairment, chronic diseases, menstrual cycle, race, and family history, are associated with urinary incontinence [2,6-11]. It has been suggested that the prevalence of urinary incontinence increases at the time of menopause [12]. However, it remains uncertain whether this is due to the hormonal changes associated withmenopause or is just part of the aging process [13]. This chapter focuses on the epidemiology and etiology of urinary incontinence and includes associated risk factors for incontinence.