Introduction

Obesity is a well-known risk factor for lower urinary tract disorders. Lifestyle plays an essential role in the etiology of the symptoms, negatively affecting self-esteem and quality of social, professional, and sexual life.

Objectives

To assess the prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms and urodynamic patterns in obese women and to compare to nonobese volunteers.

Methods

Overactive bladder (OAB) questionaries (International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire [ICIQ]-OAB) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI) (ICIQ-short form) were applied to the participants. They underwent a physical exam and urodynamics except for the control group.

Results

A total of 109 women completed the protocol and 20 were in the control group. The average age was 43.0 years, and the average body mass index was 45.12 ± 7.64 kg/m2 and control was 44.5 years, and 29.95 ± 5.08 kg/m2. The OAB symptoms in the obese group were 31.20%, 55.95% higher than the control group (20.0%). The prevalence of SUI in the obese group was 20.20%, an increase of 34.53% compared with the control group (15.00%). The urodynamic study (UDS) showed that the morbidly obese women have a first sensation earlier than the obese or severely obese, as well as the first desire to void. The Valsalva leak point pressure of morbidly obese women was significantly higher than the others.

Conclusion

Among obese women, either the prevalence of SUI or OAB is significantly higher than the nonobese female population. Regarding UDS, the pattern is similar to the clinic diagnostic. The grade of obesity is directly associated with an impairment of the patient's cystometric capacity.