Epidemiology and impact of urinary incontinence in women between 40 and 65 in a health area of Madrid]

To study the epidemiology and the social and health repercussions of urinary incontinence (UI) in women aged between 40 and 65.Observational and descriptive cross-sectional study.Setting. Area 6 of primary care (PC) in Madrid.Sample of 485 women aged between 40 and 65, obtained by randomised sampling of the census of health cards, stratified by the three kinds of health districts (rural, urban and peri-urban).Mean age was 52, with 15.4% prevalence of UI (2.6% stress, 10.6% urge and 2.1% mixed). In the multivariate logistic regression, association with the number of vaginal deliveries (OR = 2; 95% CI, 1.2-3.1) and with constipation (OR = 2.5; 95% CI, 1-6) was found.The prevalence found situates UI as a relevant problem in the population under study. Most women had not consulted the doctor on the problem. Several associated risk factors could be prevented, which justifies the setting-up within PC of coordinated programmes of UI education and prevention for this group of women.