Weight loss interventions as an option for a lifestyle treatment in urinary incontinence

Abstract

Urinary incontinence (UI) (involuntary or abnormal urine loss) is a common condition affecting an estimated 423 million individuals around the world (Irwin et al. 2011). Its prevalence varies, ranging from between 5-15.2% in Asian, 1.8-30.5% in European and 1.7-36.4% in US populations (Milsom et al. 2014). This condition can have a significant clinical (Yang et al. 2018), psychological (Farage et al. 2008; Sims et al. 2011), and financial impact (Thom et al. 2010) on an individual’s life. The risk of developing UI is associated with several non-modifiable modifiable risk factors of age (Milsom and Gyhagen 2019), gender (Nitti 2001) and family history (von Gontard et al. 2011) and modifiable risk factors of weight (Aune et al. 2019), smoking (Kawahara et al. 2020), diet (Maserejian et al. 2010) and caffeine intake (Gleason et al. 2013). Despite the association with such modifiable risk factors, there is limited evidence supporting interventions which aim to affect their influence (Imamura et al. 2015). This Cochrane systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a range of lifestyle focused interventions which are commonly used in the management of UI.
Aims of commentary: This commentary critically appraises the methods used in the Cochrane systematic review and consider its importance of the findings for clinical practice.