Abstract

Objective: To define the prevalence of UI in the Spanish elderly population in both sexes, and to identify the possible relationships between physical activity habits, psychosocial variables, and the presence of UI.

Placement: Spain.

Participants: Data were collected from 7,878 people over 60 years of age (age range: 60–89 years). Of these, 57.6% were women and 42.4% were men. The mean age of the sample was 72.2 ± 8.1 years.

Intervention: Personal interviews were conducted to a representative sample of the Spanish population.

Study variables: The presence of UI, the daily physical activity and frequency, psychosocial variables (social class and social and family support), and body mass index.

Results: 12.8% people reported having UI symptoms: with a prevalence of UI of 22.3% for females and 11.2% for males. The data showed the higher age, weight, Body Mass Index, and sedentary lifestyle of the UI patients compared to healthy participants.

Conclusions: A strong relationship was found between elevated BMI, lower socio-familial support, sedentarism and the prevalence of UI. The social class not did not find relevant results.

Keywords: Urinary incontinence; Prevalence; Aged; Risk factors