Association between urinary incontinence and urinary tract infections, and fractures in postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE

The association between urinary disorders, such as ongoing urinary incontinence (UI), history of urinary incontinence (HIST-UI) and urinary tract infections (UTI), and fractures in peri- and postmenopausal women was assessed in an epidemiological study.

METHODS

The sample consisted of 10000 women from seven birth cohorts, born between 1900 and 1940, who were investigated regarding urinary disorders, fractures and reproductive history by means of a postal questionnaire.

RESULTS

The overall response rate was 74.6%. The respondents (n = 7459) represented 53% of the total population from the respective birth cohorts. There was a significant independent correlation between UI, HIST-UI and UTI, respectively, and fractures after the age of 30. In subjects with HIST-UI, tobacco smokers compared to non-smokers had significant more fractures in both the 1930 and 1940 birth cohorts (P < 0.01). Logistic multiple regression in the 1930 and 1940 cohorts demonstrated that age (P < 0.001), HIST-UI (P < 0.001) and tobacco smoking (P < 0.05), respectively, had an independent explanatory value for fractures.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of fractures increased with increasing age, in smokers compared to non-smokers and in women with a history of UI.