Predictors of Self-Reported UTIs In the Past Year Among Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal Women

Objectives: To identify self-reported risk factors for a urinary tract infection (UTI) within the past year among a population-based sample of perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.

Methods: Data were collected as part of a nationally representative survey conducted by the National Poll on Healthy Aging from January 15, 2022 - February 4, 2022. The survey was delivered online and by phone to a randomly selected, stratified group of U.S. adults age 50–80 (n=2,277) who were participants in the NORC AmeriSpeak® panel. The sample was weighted to reflect population figures from the U.S. Census. Women who reported a UTI in the past year were compared with those who did not. A multivariable logistic regression model was estimated to identify independent predictors of self-report of a UTI within the past year. A sub-analysis of women who discussed treatment for menopausal symptoms with a doctor was undertaken to determine if the independent associations with UTI were similar. Adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (aOR, 95% CI) are reported.

Results: The survey completion rate was 68.3% (n= 2277/3333), and included 1200 women, of which 198 (16.5%) reported a UTI in the past year in the past year. Adjusting for age, education, menopausal status, hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, and COVID, women with annual household incomes of < $30,000 were significantly more likely than women with household incomes of > $100,000 to report a UTI (aOR 3.37, 95% CI 1.61-7.08 p=0.001). Women who were married or partnered were also significantly more likely than those who were not to report a UTI in the past year (aOR 2.04, 95% CI 1.22-3.40, p=0.006). In the sub-analysis of women who discussed treatment for menopausal symptoms with a doctor (n=450), those who received treatment were more likely to report a UTI in the past year than those who had not received treatment (aOR 2.26, 95% CI 1.15-4.45, p=. 019). The findings for household income and partner status were similar to those of the full cohort, and the findings for household income became more pronounced. Women with household incomes < $30,000 (aOR 6.23, 95% CI 2.22-17.47, p=.001) and those with household incomes between $30,000-60,000 (aOR 2.83, 95% CI 1.19-6.74, p=.019) had higher odds of reporting a UTI than those with household incomes >$100,000.

Conclusions: Perimenopausal and postmenopausal US women with annual household incomes < $60,000 had higher adjusted odds of reporting a UTI in the past year. Having a lower annual household income may be a risk factor for UTI among older women and thus could represent a disparity that warrants further investigation.