Prevalence, treatment and known risk factors of urinary incontinence and overactive bladder in the non-institutionalized Portuguese population.

Introduction and hypothesis: To quantify the prevalence (previous month) of urinary incontinence (UI) and overactive bladder (OAB), to assess its relation with known risk factors and to characterize UI awareness and treatment.

Methods: Telephone interviews were conducted in 1,934 Portuguese subjects aged > or =40 years. UI was defined according to the International Continence Society definitions. OAB was assessed through the Overactive Bladder Assessment Tool.

Results: The prevalence of UI was 21.4% (95% CI 19.0-23.9) in women, 7.6% (95% CI 4.8-10.4) in men. Diagnosis (ever in life) was reported by 4.5% (95% CI 3.3-5.7) of the participants, from which 73.0% reported to have been treated for UI. OAB was reported by 29.4% (95% CI 26.6-32.2) of women and 35.1% (95% CI 29.6-40.6) of men. Obesity, hysterectomy and asthma in women, and age in men, were significantly associated with the symptoms.

Conclusions: UI and OAB prevalences were high, but the proportion of individuals aware of their condition was low, emphasizing the need for better information among physicians and general population.