Literature review – Notes from the journals

Prevalence and risk factors for urinary incontinence in women with type 2 diabetes and impaired fasting glucose: findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001–2002 Brown JS, Vittinghoff E, Lin F, et al. Diabetes Care 2006;29:1307–12 Objective. Diabetes is associated with increased risk of urinary incontinence. It is unknown whether women with pre-diabetes, or impaired fasting glucose (IFG), have an increased prevalence of incontinence. Methods. Fasting plasma glucose, information about diabetes and urinary incontinence were examined in nearly 1500 non-pregnant adult women. Self-reporting of incontinence of all types was recorded. Results. Seventeen per cent of the women had diabetes and 11% had IFG. The prevalence of incontinence was similar in women in the two groups, and significantly higher than among women with normal fasting glucose. In addition to well recognized risk factors, including age, weight and oral estrogen use, two microvascular complications caused by diabetes, macroalbuminuria and peripheral neuropathic pain, were associated with incontinence. Conclusions. Medical observers should be alert for incontinence in women with diabetes and IFG. ST AR PA PE R