Unraveling the frequency of intestinal constipation in woman with urinary incontinence: a descriptive observational study

Abstract Objective: To identify the frequency of functional constipation in women with urinary incontinence. Methods: A cross-sectional, quantitative, descriptive, and exploratory study was conducted from September 2019 to January 2020 with 227 women (over 18 years old) at the Hospital de Clínicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná. A structured form collected sociodemographic and general health data, while bowel habits were assessed using the Rome IV criteria, the Bristol Stool Scale, and the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire – Short Form (ICIQ-SF). Comparisons between women with and without constipation involved χ2, Fisher's Exact, Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney U, and univariate logistic regression was performed to assess the association between sociodemographic/personal factors and the risk factor constipation. All women had a clinical diagnosis of urinary incontinence, and the analysis also compared those with and without constipation. Odds ratios and their respective 95% confidence intervals were estimated for each univariate model. A 5% significance level was adopted. Results: The participants had a median age of 62 years (range 23–97). Functional constipation was identified in 80.2%(n=182), and mixed urinary incontinence was predominant in this group (88.5%, n=161). Physical activity emerged as a protective factor against constipation (OR=0.47; 95% CI=0.22–1.01; p=0.05), though only 22.5%(n=41) reported regular exercise. Conclusion: The high frequency of functional constipation in women with urinary incontinence highlights a significant impact on quality of life and underscores the importance of integrated, conservative therapeutic strategies, including early lifestyle interventions such as regular physical activity, to prevent worsening of both conditions. Longitudinal investigations are recommended.