Urinary Incontinence Is Associated With Physical Performance Decline in Community-Dwelling Older Women: Results From the International Mobility in Aging Study.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the influence of urinary incontinence (UI) on physical performance. In prospective analyses from the International Mobility in Aging Study (IMIAS), 915 women (65-74 years) from Canada, Colombia, Albania, and Brazil were evaluated in relation to self-reported UI (past week) and physical performance (Short Physical Performance Battery [SPPB]), with reevaluation after 2 years. Linear mixed models examined the influence of UI on SPPB, adjusted by covariates (age, study site, education, income sufficiency, body mass index [BMI] and parity). Women reporting some UI presented lower SPPB mean (β = -0.41, = .009) and a greater reduction (β = -0.53, = .001) over 2 years than those reporting no UI. Compared with no reported UI, some UI was associated with worse and more pronounced declines in physical performance over 2 years. This study highlights the importance of practices to reduce UI to contribute to healthier aging.