Session: MP60: Bladder and Urethra: Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology
MP60-04: Cannabis Use is a Predictor of Higher Rates of Urinary Incontinence in Both Males and Females; Analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Introduction: There is little research exploring the possible association between cannabis use and urinary incontinence (UI). With cannabis legalization on the rise in the United States, it is important to understand how it may impact patients. We identified the impact of cannabis use on the rate and severity of urinary incontinence in male and female populations. Methods: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) was queried from 2013-2018. Respondents were grouped as either using or never using cannabis. The rate of UI and UI subtypes (stress, urge, and overflow) were analyzed based on cannabis use. Symptom frequency was analyzed, with moderate symptoms defined as UI occurring less than once a week, and severe symptoms defined as UI occurring at least once a week. Multivariate analysis including age, race, education, income to poverty ratio, BMI, cigarette use, and parity was used to determine whether cannabis use is an independent predictor of UI. Results: 3,391 males (1,506 [44.4%] used cannabis) and 3,570 females (987 [27.6%] used cannabis) were included in analysis. Cannabis use was associated with a greater rate of urinary incontinence in both males (13% vs. 7%, p < 0.001) and females (42% vs. 34%, p < 0.001). It was associated with greater rates of all three types of UI; stress UI in males (4% vs. 2%, p < 0.001) and females (42% vs. 36%, p = 0.008), urge UI in males (12% vs. 7%, p < 0.001) and females (28% vs. 19%, p < 0.001), and overflow UI in males (3% vs. 2%, p = 0.017) and females (11% vs. 6%, p < 0.001). Cannabis use was also associated with more severe symptom frequency in females (37% vs. 29%, p = 0.009), but there was no difference in symptom frequency in males. Multivariate analysis showed cannabis to be a significant predictor of UI in both males (OR: 2.04, p < 0.001) and in females (OR: 1.65, p = 0.003) when controlling for other demographic variables. Conclusions: Cannabis use is an independent predictor of higher rates of urinary incontinence in both males and females and is associated with higher rates of all forms of urinary incontinence in males and females and with more frequent symptoms in females. With legal cannabis use on the rise, it is important to understand how it may affect the rate and severity of urinary incontinence in patients. SOURCE OF Funding: NA
