Prevalence of Urinary Incontinence in High-Impact Sport Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The aim of this study was to systematize the scientific evidence that assessed the prevalence of urinary incontinence in female athletes and determine which modality is most predisposed to stress urinary incontinence. From September to December 2018, a systematic literature search of current interventional studies of stress urinary incontinence of the last ten years was performed using PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus and Web of Science databases. The methodological quality was assessed by the Downs and Black scale, while the data collected from the studies were analyzed through meta-analysis. Nine studies met the eligibility criteria, meaning they included reports of urinary incontinence in different sports. The meta-analysis showed 25.9% prevalence of urinary incontinence in female athletes in different sports, as well as 20.7% prevalence of stress urinary incontinence. The most prevalent high impact sport was volleyball, with the value of 75.6%. The prevalence of urinary incontinence can be high in female athletes, with high-impact sports potentially increasing the risk for stress urinary incontinence. Further research is needed regarding the potential risk factors related to the onset of urinary incontinence.