Prevalence and Risk Factors for Urinary Symptoms in Young Latinx Females: ELLAS Study Findings

Objectives: We aim to assess the prevalence and sociodemographic risk factors associated with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in a reproductive aged Latinx population using the Urinary Distress Inventory (UDI-6).

Methods: Data were collected from the Environment, Leiomyomas, Latinas, and Adiposity Study (ELLAS) cohort, which is a community-based participatory research longitudinal study of reproductive-aged Latinx females ages 21-50 at the time of enrollment. Frequency data were performed on the UDI-6 items, and participants were categorized as either no symptoms/unbothered (0-1) or as symptomatic (2-4) based on their scores. Simple and multivariable logistic regression analysis were performed.

Results: There were 621 participants enrolled in ELLAS, and UDI-6 data were available for 239 participants at the time of submission. The mean age was 41.6 ± 6.73 years. The mean BMI was 30.5 ± 6.44. The mean parity was 2.8± 1.48. The most frequently reported LUTS were stress incontinence (SUI) 56.5%, urinary frequency 38.8%, and small amounts of urine leakage 34.3%. The mean overall UDI-6 score was 16.7 ± 18.68. Nulliparity, marriage, and lifetime spent in the US were significant in simple logistic regression. Multivariate analysis adjusting for several variables including BMI, smoking, prior hysterectomy, country of birth, time in the US, and age found that age (aOR 1.127 95%CI 1.023 – 1.242, p=0.0156) and hysterectomy (aOR 10.030 95%CI 1.044-96.336, p=0.0458) were associated with having SUI. Increasing percent of years spent in the US (aOR 0.802 95%CI 0.669-0.961, p=0.0167), nulliparity (aOR 0.93 95%CI 0.011-0.827, p=0.0331), and total years spent in the US (aOR 0.802 95%CI 0.669-0.961, p=0.0167) were associated with a decreased risk of having SUI. A higher acculturation score (aOR 19.869 95%CI 1.279-308.699, p=0.0327) was associated with having urinary frequency. Higher percent of years spent in the US (aOR 0.922 95%CI 0.845-0.9992 p=0.0307) and being born in the US (aOR 0.028 95%CI 0.0010-0.753, p=0.0333) were associated with a decreased risk of having urinary frequency. Small amounts of urine leakage had no significant sociodemographic associations.

Conclusions: In this understudied population, there is a high prevalence of SUI (56.5%). Surprisingly, BMI and increasing parity were not found to be risk factors for SUI. Percent of years spent in the US and total time spent in the US decreased the odds of having SUI. Moreover, a high acculturation score increased the odds of having urinary frequency, while being born in the US and percent of years spent in the US decreased the odds. Further studies are needed to better understand why years in the US could be protective for SUI while a higher acculturation score increases the risk for having urinary frequency. Importantly, clinicians should be aware that LUTS, particularly SUI, are common in young Latinx females, and that this population should be actively screened and treated for symptoms.