Urinary Incontinence in US Women

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Abstract
Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common, distressing medical disorder that affects approximately 50% of American women during their lifetimes.1 It is associated with significant decrements in function and quality of life (QOL)2-4 and with an estimated $26.3 billion annually in societal costs.5 Because the the prevalence of UI increases with age, this condition will become increasingly common with the “graying” of the US population. Most large epidemiologic surveys of UI have studied middle-aged and elderly populations.6-11 Fewer studies have examined the prevalence and risk factors for the condition in younger women or in women of broader age ranges,12-15 and none of these studies has been conducted in the United States, where predominant risk factors may differ from those of other countries.