Investigation of the relationship between urinary incontinence and anthropometric characteristics in women

Urinary incontinence (UI) is a health problem that negatively affects the physical, psychological, and social well-being of women. UI is thought to be associated with anthropometric characteristics and regional fat distribution. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between UI and anthropometric characteristics, skinfold thickness (SFT), quality of life, and depression levels in women. In this study, 80 women aged 18–65 years were divided into four groups: stress urinary incontinence (SUI), urge urinary incontinence (UUI), mixed urinary incontinence (MUI), and a control group. Circumferential anthropometric measurements, lower extremity measurements, and SFT measurements were assessed. Quality of life was evaluated using the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36), and depression levels were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Hip circumference measurements were significantly higher in the UUI and MUI groups than in the control group (p = 0.021). Circumference measured at the level of the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) was significantly increased in all UI groups (p = 0.002). Compared with the control group, umbilical circumference was higher in the SUI and UUI groups (p = 0.044), thigh circumference was lower in the SUI group (right: p = 0.049; left: p = 0.038), and body weight and body mass index (BMI) values were higher in the UUI and MUI groups (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found among the groups regarding SFT measurements (all p > 0.05). Significant differences were observed among the groups in the physical functioning, role limitations due to physical problems, role limitations due to emotional problems, social functioning, and pain subscales of the SF-36 (all p < 0.05). BDI scores were significantly higher in the UUI and MUI groups than in the control group (p = 0.001). In conclusion, several anthropometric measurements were higher in women with UI, whereas no significant differences were observed in SFT measurements. Increased ASIS circumference in all UI groups suggests that central adiposity may be a common characteristic associated with UI. The impaired quality of life and higher depression levels observed in the UUI and MUI groups indicate that the physical, social, and psychological burden of UI is more pronounced in these groups. These findings support the need for a multidisciplinary assessment incorporating anthropometric, psychological, and quality-of-life parameters in the evaluation of women with UI. KEYWORDS: Anthropometry, Depression, Urinary incontinence, Women's health, SF-36.