Incontinence, the loss of bladder function, is a condition that over 25 million Americans face. According to a recent NHANES survey, 36% of Americans reported involuntary urinary leakage at least less than once a month, 25% reported at least a few times a month, 14% reported at least a few times a week, and 8% reported involuntary urinary leakage every day.
In this study, we examined incontinence rates among adults in the US to assess the impact of gender, age, and weight on the individual’s likelihood of suffering from incontinence during their lifetime.
Key findings
- American women are two times more likely to experience involuntary urine loss in their lifetime. 23% of American men and 48% of American women reported incontinence.
- As Americans age, the chance of facing incontinence increases. 30% of Americans below 65 years old reported involuntary urine loss, which increased to 55% for the population above 65 years old.
- Analysis showed that weight and incontinence increase together. While 28% of Americans who are not overweight reported incontinence, 43% of Americans in the overweight population reported incontinence.
Incontinence Types
Urinary incontinence is a common condition that affects people of all ages. There are several different types of urinary incontinence, each with its own set of symptoms and causes.
- Stress incontinence occurs when there is an unintentional leakage of urine when you exert pressure on your bladder, such as when you cough, sneeze, laugh, exercise, or lift something heavy. Stress incontinence is often caused by weakened pelvic muscles, which can be due to many reasons, such as pregnancy, childbirth, or other factors.
- Urge incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine after a sudden urge to urinate. This type of incontinence can be caused by a minor condition, such as a urinary tract infection, or a more severe condition, such as a neurological disorder or diabetes. People experiencing urge incontinence may need to urinate often, including throughout the night.
- Overflow incontinence is characterized by frequent or constant dribbling of urine due to a bladder that doesn’t empty completely. This type of incontinence can be caused by an obstruction in the urinary tract or a problem with the muscles that control the bladder.
- Functional incontinence refers to a type of urinary incontinence that is caused by a physical or mental impairment. This type of incontinence can occur when a person is not able to make it to the toilet in time due to a physical or mental impairment, such as arthritis, dementia, or spinal cord injury.
- Mixed incontinence is a combination of stress, urge, overflow, or functional incontinence.
Methodology
This analysis is based on data from the survey collected by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in the United States between 2017 and 2020.
