Prevalence and Risk Factors of Male Urinary Incontinence: Results of a Korean Population-Based Study.

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence of and risk factors for urinary incontinence (UI) in Korean men. METHODS This epidemiologic survey adopted a two-stage systematic sampling method. A total of 5831 men participated in this survey. Face-to-face interviews were used to collect data. Age, mobility, self-care ability, comorbidities and smoking were included as potential risk factors. The type of UI was assessed with the Urogenital Distress Inventory-6 questionnaire. To provide representative population prevalence estimates, the sample population was weighted by age. RESULTS The age-adjusted prevalence of Korean male UI was 5.5%. Urgency urinary incontinence was the most prevalent incontinence type. Men aged 65 years and older had a rate of UI eight times that of men aged 19-44 years. Men with problems in mobility or self-care had an OR of 2.3 and 1.7, respectively. CONCLUSION The age-adjusted prevalence of UI in community-dwelling Korean men was 5.5%, which is lower than that of Korean women and higher than previously reported prevalence of Korean male incontinence. Age, immobility, and self-care ability were risk factors for male UI.