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Prevalence of urinary incontinence in Korean women:an epidemiologic survey

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) in a Korean national community sample of female adults aged 30–79 years. During April 2003, a national Korea telephone survey using quota sampling methods was conducted. The clinically validated computer-assisted telephone interview approach was used in the survey. Of the 1,500 subjects contacted, 1,303 were successfully interviewed (response rate 86.9%). Overall, UI was reported by 40.8%, and 22.9, 3.1, and 14.9% reported pure stress, urge, and mixed UI, respectively. The prevalence of stress, urge, and mixed UI generally did not increase with age. Urge and mixed UI had a greater impact than stress UI on daily tasks (P < 0.001), social life (P < 0.001), depression or anxiety due to UI (P < 0.001), worry about UI (P < 0.001), sex life (P < 0.001), wear protection due to UI (P = 0.011), and quality of life (P < 0.001). In subjects with pure stress UI, 28.3% reported impaired quality of life compared with 43.9% and 43.8% of subjects with urge and mixed UI. Of those individuals with stress, urge, and mixed UI, 19.1, 20.0, and 25.8% had the willingness to seek medical consultation. This study is the first to examine the prevalence of UI in Korean women. The present study revealed that there was a high prevalence of UI in this population. Our descriptive research provides a valuable insight into the need for tailored education to this population about UI.

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Acknowledgment

This study was supported by the Korean Continence Society.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea

    Myung-Soo Choo

  2. Department of Urology, Seoul Veterans Hospital, Seoul, South Korea

    Ja Hyeon Ku

  3. Department of Urology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea

    Seung-June Oh & Jae-Seung Paick

  4. Department of Urology, SungKyunKwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea

    Kyu-Sung Lee & Ju Tae Seo

  5. Department of Urology, Catholic University of Taegu Hyosung School of Medicine, Daegu, South Korea

    Duk Yoon Kim

  6. Department of Urology, College of Medicine, Pusan National University, Busan, South Korea

    Jeong Ju Lee

  7. Department of Urology, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea

    Jeong Gu Lee

  8. Department of Urology, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea

    Yong Gil Na

  9. Department of Urology, Chonnam National University College of Medicine, Gwangju, South Korea

    Dong Deuk Kwon

  10. Department of Urology, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon, South Korea

    Won-Hee Park

  11. Department of Urology, Inha University Hospital, 7-206, 3-ga, Sinheung-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon, 400-103, South Korea

    Won-Hee Park

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  1. Myung-Soo Choo
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  2. Ja Hyeon Ku
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  3. Seung-June Oh
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  4. Kyu-Sung Lee
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  5. Jae-Seung Paick
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  6. Ju Tae Seo
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  7. Duk Yoon Kim
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  8. Jeong Ju Lee
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  9. Jeong Gu Lee
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  10. Yong Gil Na
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  11. Dong Deuk Kwon
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  12. Won-Hee Park
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Won-Hee Park.

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Choo, MS., Ku, J.H., Oh, SJ. et al. Prevalence of urinary incontinence in Korean women:an epidemiologic survey. Int Urogynecol J 18, 1309–1315 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-007-0322-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-007-0322-z

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