Prevalence and Associated Factors of Urinary Incontinence among Adults Attending a Family Medicine Clinic

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and subtypes of urinary incontinence (UI), as well as associated demographic and clinical factors, among adults attending a family medicine outpatient clinic.
METHODS: A two-phase cross-sectional study was conducted between January and April 2018. In Phase 1, 794 participants aged 18 years and older completed the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF). Those identified with UI were invited to participate in Phase 2, in which a 25-item structured questionnaire was administered via face-to-face interviews to explore contributing factors. All statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS version 25.0. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
RESULTS: Of the participants, 26.9% reported UI. The most common subtype was mixed incontinence (14.4%), followed by urge (6.5%) and stress incontinence (5.9%). UI was significantly more prevalent among women (p<0.001) and individuals aged 65 and older (p<0.001). In the second phase (n=130), mixed incontinence remained the predominant type (51.5%). Significant associations were found between UI type and menopausal status (p=0.032) and the sensation of incomplete bladder emptying (p=0.016). Although the prevalence of urinary incontinence is high, only 16.9% of affected individuals sought medical care. Most attributed this to feelings of embarrassment or perceiving the condition as unimportant.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Urinary incontinence is a common but underreported condition that significantly affects quality of life, particularly among older adults and women. Routine screening in primary care settings is essential for early detection and effective management.

Keywords: Aging, mixed incontinence, prevalence, primary care, urinary incontinence