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Published in: International Urogynecology Journal 4/2012

01-04-2012 | Review Article

Advanced maternal age as a risk factor for stress urinary incontinence: a review of the literature

Authors: Adonis Hijaz, Zhina Sadeghi, Lauren Byrne, Jack Cheng-Tsung Hou, Firouz Daneshgari

Published in: International Urogynecology Journal | Issue 4/2012

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Abstract

The pathophysiology of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is multifactorial and evidence supports a critical role of pregnancy and vaginal delivery. This review dissects epidemiologic literature to determine the weight of evidence on the role of advanced maternal age (AMA) as a risk factor for the development of subsequent or persistent SUI. We conducted a Medline search using the keywords postpartum, SUI, maternal age, pregnancy, and incontinence. The published literature was critically analyzed. Evidence supports that childbirth trauma contributes to the development and severity of SUI. Yet, there is contradicting evidence as to whether AMA increases the risk. AMA clearly represents an independent risk factor for postpartum SUI. However, long-term studies did not confirm this observation. Whether this finding is suggestive of a true biologic signal that is lost with competing risk factors over time warrants further research.
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Metadata
Title
Advanced maternal age as a risk factor for stress urinary incontinence: a review of the literature
Authors
Adonis Hijaz
Zhina Sadeghi
Lauren Byrne
Jack Cheng-Tsung Hou
Firouz Daneshgari
Publication date
01-04-2012
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
International Urogynecology Journal / Issue 4/2012
Print ISSN: 0937-3462
Electronic ISSN: 1433-3023
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-011-1562-5

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