Urinary incontinence symptoms stratification: The devil is in the details

摘要

Urinary incontinence is seen as a common and frequent health problem in the developed world. An estimated 5-69% of women and 1-39% of men have urinary incontinence to some degree. Although substantial epide-miologic data have been published in recent years, the estimates of the prevalence of urinary incontinence in both genders still vary widely. Following consensual work led by international experts in the field of urology, the characteristics and subtypes of this highly prevalent symptom were defined based on clinical presentation and linked to underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms. The terminology is updated regularly so practitioners worldwide can use a common language and promote innovative patient care in this functional part of urologic practice.From the patient's point of view, urinary incontinence remains a taboo subject, which has prompted information campaigns from scientific societies. Through dedicated events, several countries and associations are trying to bring information on incontinence to the public. Academic research in the epidemiology of urinary incontinence has mainly focused on specific patient groups (eg, women, elderly people, patients with comorbid conditions) and has failed to produce an accurate estimate of the prevalence of urinary incontinence. Because of patients' typical unwillingness to respond openly to so-called validated questionnaires and symptom scores by investigators, current studies do not have enough power to investigate the symptoms in depth in the general population.