Prevalence and Risk Factors of Urinary Incontinence and Overactive Bladder in Japanese Women

Objectives The prevalence of storage symptoms, including stress urinary incontinence ( SUI ) and overactive bladder ( OAB ), is high in women worldwide. In J apan, there have been few large‐scale epidemiological surveys of lower urinary tract symptoms ( LUTS ), and the risk factors for these symptoms are unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence and risk factors of storage symptoms in J apanese women. Methods A cross‐sectional I nternet survey was conducted in J apan. Five thousand women aged 20–79 years were selected to answer demographic questionnaires, J apanese version of I nternational C onsultation on I ncontinence Q uestionnaire– S hort F orm, and the O veractive B ladder S ymptom S core ( OABSS ) pertaining to their symptoms in the previous month. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate the prevalence of storage symptoms. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine risk factors for SUI and OAB . Results The answers from 4804 women (average age, 40.4 years) were analyzed. The prevalence of SUI was 16.7% ( SUI , 13.0%; mixed urinary incontinence, 3.7%). The prevalence of OAB diagnosed on OABSS was 8.1%. The prevalence of SUI and OAB symptoms increased with age, and 68.0% of women had one or more storage symptoms. Age ≥40 years, body mass index ≥25 kg/m 2 , and constipation were common risk factors for SUI and OAB . Childbirth was an additional risk factor for SUI . Conclusions The prevalence of storage symptoms in J apanese women was high, and risk factors associated with these symptoms were similar to those reported in studies in other countries.