Investigation of factors influencing stress urinary incontinence in middle-aged and elderly women

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify factors influencing SUI in middle-aged and older women, with a particular focus on the impact of spinal alignment, including the thoracic, lumbar, and sacral postures, in addition to commonly recognized factors such as body mass index (BMI), number of childbirths, and physical activity habits. The study included 20 women with SUI and 28 women without urinary incontinence (urinary continence), all of whom were middle-aged or older. Data on body mass index (BMI), number of childbirths, and physical activity were collected via interviews. Spinal alignment, specifically the postures of the thoracic, lumbar, and sacral regions, was measured using the Spinal Mouse, a spinal shape analysis device. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that only the thoracic kyphosis angle was significantly associated with SUI. On the contrary, the number of childbirth and exercise habits, which are generally recognized as causes of stress urinary incontinence, were not identified. These findings suggest that targeting the thoracic kyphosis angle may be an effective strategy to prevent SUI in middle-aged and older women, particularly when postural changes begin to occur.