Stress urinary incontinence is common and affects many women globally. About 50% of women with urinary incontinence report symptoms of stress incontinence, but estimates of the prevalence and incidence are limited by inconsistent methods of measurement between epidemiologic studies in different populations. Estimates also are affected by underlying differences in the age and ethnicity of study populations. Longitudinal studies assessing the incidence and natural history of stress incontinence estimate an annual incidence of 4% to 10%. While remission does occur, data on this remains sparse. Multiple risk factors have been associated with stress incontinence and may to contribute to the development of the condition. Recent epidemiologic studies have focused on defining additional lower urinary tract symptoms besides mixed or urge incontinence that may be associated with stress incontinence, but the significance of this is not yet known.
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