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Urinary Incontinence
and Urodynamics
Chapter 39
Lisa Jambusaria, MD and
Vincent Lucente, MD, MBA❍ What is urinary incontinence?
The International Continence Society defines urinary incontinence as the “demonstrable involuntary loss of urine
that is socially or hygienically unacceptable to the patient or detrimental to her physical well-being.”
❍ What is the prevalence of urinary incontinence?
One of the risk factors for developing urinary incontinence is age, thus, as the population ages, the prevalence of
incontinence will increase. The prevalence of incontinence also depends on the population under study. Studies
have reported overall rates ranging from 8% to 41%, and in the nursing home population, the prevalence is as high
as 70%.
❍ What risk factors predispose someone to the development of urinary incontinence?
Sex: Urinary incontinence is 2 to 3 times more common in women than in men.
Age: The prevalence of urinary incontinence increases with age, with a 30% greater prevalence for each 5-year
increase in age.
Childbirth: The risk of developing stress incontinence increases with parity. Urge incontinence is not related to
parity. Close to 50% of women who have had vaginal deliveries will develop some form of incontinence.
Menopause, smoking, and obesity are also risk factors for the development of urinary incontinence.
❍ There are four main types of established urinary incontinence in women. What are they?
Genuine stress incontinence
Detrusor overactivity/also known as urge incontinence (formerly know as detrusor instability)
Mixed incontinence
Overflow incontinence
❍ What is the most common type of incontinence?
Stress urinary incontinence.