The Association Between Weight-adjusted-waist Index and Stress Urinary Incontinence in Female Adults: a Population-based Study

Introduction: Obesity has a significant impact on female stress urinary incontinence. The weight-adjusted-waist index (WWI), a newly explored metric for measuring physical obesity and stress urine incontinence, has not been investigated.

Methods: Cross-sectional data were obtained from the 2011 to 2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) of participants with complete data for WWI and SUI. The independent connection between WWI and SUI was examined using weighted multivariable logistic regression analyses. Smoothed curve fitting was used to study their relationship. In addition, subgroup analyses were performed, and interaction tests were undertaken.

Results: In 2,361 female participants over 20, WWI and SUI showed a positive association. Model 3 found that for each one-unit increase in WWI, SUI prevalence increased by 38% [1.38 (1.20, 1.59)]. The prevalence of SUI was 84% higher among participants in the highest quartile of WWI compared to those in the lowest quartile [1.84 (1.32, 2.57)]. Observed nonlinear positive correlation between WWI and SUI was revealed through smoothed curve fitting. In addition, we found that WWI was more strongly associated with SUI than traditional indicators of obesity, including BMI and weight.

Conclusions: Females with higher weight-adjusted waist index levels were more likely to develop stress urinary incontinence and have a stronger correlation than traditional indicators of obesity. According to our research, WWI may help detect women's stress urinary incontinence (SUI), and managing obesity through the WWI index may reduce SUI prevalence rates.