Association between urogenital symptoms and depression in community-dwelling women aged 20 to 70 years.

Objectives: To determine the association between urogenital symptoms and the occurrence of depressive symptoms.

Methods: A random sample of 3200 community-dwelling women, aged 20 to 70 years, was invited to answer a questionnaire. A total of 2042 questionnaires (63.8%) were returned. Urogenital symptoms were assessed with the Urogenital Distress Inventory and depressive symptoms with the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale. A cutoff value of 16 or more on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale was considered as possible clinical depression. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression statistics were used.

Results: The prevalence of depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale score of 16 or more) was significantly greater in women with urinary incontinence than in those without (odds ratio 1.9, 95% confidence interval 1.6 to 2.3). However, this statistically significant association existed for all urogenital symptoms when assessed individually. After multivariate adjustment, the statistical significant association with depressive symptoms was lost for most urogenital symptoms. Only nocturia remained significantly associated with depression throughout all analyses (odds ratio 1.4, 95% confidence interval 1.1 to 1.8 for the symptom itself; and odds ratio 2.0, 95% confidence interval 1.3 to 3.2, when considering only bothersome nocturia symptoms).

Conclusions: After adjusting for the influence of coexisting urogenital symptoms, no association between urinary incontinence and depression could be demonstrated. Only nocturia remained significantly associated with depressive symptoms.