Risk factors for stress urinary incontinence in middle aged and elderly Thai women

Objective : To determine risk factors of stress urinary incontinence in middle aged and elderly Thai women. Material and Method : Between March 1999 and January 2000, 46 women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) with the mean age of 49.05 years old and 168 continent women with the mean age of 49.05 years old were interviewed. The risk factors (e.g. cigarette smoking, childbirth, menopausal status, family history, previous abdominal hysterectomy, transvaginal surgery and body mass index) were studied. The Chi Square or Fisher exact test were used for statistical analysis and p<0.05 was considered as a level of statistical significance. Odds Ratio (O.R.) and its 95 per cent confidence of interval was calculated. Results : The study suggested that menopausal status, childbirth, previous abdominal hysterectomy, transvaginal surgery and family history had no correlation with SUI. The risk factor of body mass index (BMI) ≥Kg/m² had statistical correlation with SUI. (p=0.000, O.R.=3.570, 95% C.I. of O.R.=1.779 to 7.163). No smokers were found among the studied group so this factor could not be evaluated. Conclusions : Body mass index was the only identified risk factor of SUI in middle aged and elderly Thai women.