Prevalence of Urinary Incontinence and Possible Associated Etiological Risk Factors in Saudi Women

Importance: Urinary incontinence (UI) is a frequent condition among women worldwide. It has a significant impact on physical, social, and interpersonal interaction.

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of different types of urinary incontinence and possible associated etiological risk factors in Saudi women.

Study Design: This cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was made through an online and hard copy questionnaire on Saudi women aged between 20 to 55 years from January 2021 to March 2021. Eligible women complete 3 Incontinence Questions (3IQ) that identify if they had UI. Subsequently, a standard questionnaire was completed to know the demographic profile, obstetric history, medical diseases, and social factors to assess etiological risk factors. The obtained data were collected and analyzed.

Results: The prevalence of UI was 45.2% among Saudi women. The incontinence type was mostly urge incontinence, followed by stress incontinence and other causes. Risk factors for UI among participants were age >30 years, obesity, married women, parity ≥3, previous episiotomy, history of 3rd or 4th-degree perineal tear (patients usually informed about these complications in postnatal clinic); history of recurrent urinary tract infections; history of childhood nocturnal enuresis; chronic constipation and history of depression. Meanwhile, mode of delivery, chronic cough, smoking, and regular exercise were not associated with the occurrence of UI.

Conclusions: Female UI is a public health issue with medical and social ramifications. More research is needed to appropriately address the UI burden in Saudi Arabia and help plan future healthcare strategies.