Factors associated with poor bladder health in community-dwelling Australians aged 40–75 years

Abstract

The objective of this study was to identify significant predictors of poor bladder health in middle-aged and older community-dwelling Australians that may be addressed by public health interventions. A cross-sectional study recruited 656 volunteers aged 40–75 years in one Australian state capital city. We report bladder health in this paper, measured as the summed non-sex-specific bladder health questions (N=5) in the Pelvic Floor Bother Questionnaire (PFBQ). Associations between bladder health and putative predictors identified from the literature (age; sex; health concerns; polypharmacy; smoking; cognition; nutrition; alcohol intake, regular exercise; body mass index; walking speed) were examined. Bladder health was tested as a scaled variable in three categories (no problems, some problems and many problems). Univariate linear regression models, chi square models and analysis of variance models were applied to test strength of associations. Significant crude associations between predictors and poor bladder health were stratified by gender and age groups (40–49 years, 50–59 years, 60–69 years and 70+ years) to test for confounding. The sample comprised 218 men and 438 women. Increasing age, high body mass index, slow walking speed and health concerns were significant crude predictors of poor bladder health. Gender and age were significant confounders of all these associations. Broad public health interventions that promote regular physical activity to people aged 45–75 years may result in faster walking speeds and lower body mass index, which in turn may improve general health, and prevent and improve poor bladder health.