Urinary incontinence in US adults aged ≥55 years with type 2 diabetes and indications for SGLT2is: NHANES 2013–2020

Objective Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) are recommended as first-line cardiorenal protective therapy in type 2 diabetes. Because SGLT2is cause glycosuria and increase urine volume, they may exacerbate incontinence symptoms among patients with pre-existing urinary incontinence....

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Main Authors: Sei J Lee, Eva Raphael, Kathryn E Callahan, Kasia J Lipska, Alexandra K Lee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2025-07-01
Series:BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care
Online Access:https://drc.bmj.com/content/13/4/e004929.full
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author Sei J Lee
Eva Raphael
Kathryn E Callahan
Kasia J Lipska
Alexandra K Lee
author_facet Sei J Lee
Eva Raphael
Kathryn E Callahan
Kasia J Lipska
Alexandra K Lee
author_sort Sei J Lee
collection DOAJ
description Objective Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) are recommended as first-line cardiorenal protective therapy in type 2 diabetes. Because SGLT2is cause glycosuria and increase urine volume, they may exacerbate incontinence symptoms among patients with pre-existing urinary incontinence. Our objective was to determine how many adults meeting guideline indications for SGLT2i have frequent urinary incontinence.Research design and methods We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) participants aged ≥55 with type 2 diabetes in 2013–2020. We determined whether participants met American Diabetes Association guideline indications for an SGLT2i due to heart failure or chronic kidney disease, or due to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or high cardiovascular risk (for the latter two cardiovascular indications, GLP-1RAs are guideline-recommended alternative medications). Frequent urinary incontinence was defined by self-report of leaking urine daily/nightly or a few times per week.Results There were 1726 NHANES participants aged ≥55 with type 2 diabetes, representing 16.0 million US adults; 19.6% (95% CI 17.3% to 22.2%) (3.1 million) met indications for an SGLT2i specifically and 50.9% (95% CI 47.2% to 54.7%) (8.2 million) met indications for either an SGLT2i or a GLP-1RA. Among those with indications for an SGLT2i specifically, 32.4% (95% CI 25.9% to 39.8%) had frequent urinary incontinence, representing 333 000 men and 685 000 women. Among those with indications for either an SGLT2i or GLP-1RA, 25.5% (95% CI 20.8% to 30.8%) had frequent urinary incontinence, representing 630 000 men and 1413 000 women.Conclusions Frequent urinary incontinence affects >15% of men and >40% of women aged ≥55 years with guideline indications for SGLT2i. Studies are needed to determine if incontinence increases risk of genital infections when initiating SGLT2is.
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spelling doaj-art-d9e684835fa74e7e9e9d2ce5140f425b2025-08-20T03:58:08ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care2052-48972025-07-0113410.1136/bmjdrc-2025-004929Urinary incontinence in US adults aged ≥55 years with type 2 diabetes and indications for SGLT2is: NHANES 2013–2020Sei J Lee0Eva Raphael1Kathryn E Callahan2Kasia J Lipska3Alexandra K Lee4Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USADepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USAWake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, Carolina, USADepartment of Internal Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USADepartment of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USAObjective Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) are recommended as first-line cardiorenal protective therapy in type 2 diabetes. Because SGLT2is cause glycosuria and increase urine volume, they may exacerbate incontinence symptoms among patients with pre-existing urinary incontinence. Our objective was to determine how many adults meeting guideline indications for SGLT2i have frequent urinary incontinence.Research design and methods We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) participants aged ≥55 with type 2 diabetes in 2013–2020. We determined whether participants met American Diabetes Association guideline indications for an SGLT2i due to heart failure or chronic kidney disease, or due to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or high cardiovascular risk (for the latter two cardiovascular indications, GLP-1RAs are guideline-recommended alternative medications). Frequent urinary incontinence was defined by self-report of leaking urine daily/nightly or a few times per week.Results There were 1726 NHANES participants aged ≥55 with type 2 diabetes, representing 16.0 million US adults; 19.6% (95% CI 17.3% to 22.2%) (3.1 million) met indications for an SGLT2i specifically and 50.9% (95% CI 47.2% to 54.7%) (8.2 million) met indications for either an SGLT2i or a GLP-1RA. Among those with indications for an SGLT2i specifically, 32.4% (95% CI 25.9% to 39.8%) had frequent urinary incontinence, representing 333 000 men and 685 000 women. Among those with indications for either an SGLT2i or GLP-1RA, 25.5% (95% CI 20.8% to 30.8%) had frequent urinary incontinence, representing 630 000 men and 1413 000 women.Conclusions Frequent urinary incontinence affects >15% of men and >40% of women aged ≥55 years with guideline indications for SGLT2i. Studies are needed to determine if incontinence increases risk of genital infections when initiating SGLT2is.https://drc.bmj.com/content/13/4/e004929.full
spellingShingle Sei J Lee
Eva Raphael
Kathryn E Callahan
Kasia J Lipska
Alexandra K Lee
Urinary incontinence in US adults aged ≥55 years with type 2 diabetes and indications for SGLT2is: NHANES 2013–2020
BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care
title Urinary incontinence in US adults aged ≥55 years with type 2 diabetes and indications for SGLT2is: NHANES 2013–2020
title_full Urinary incontinence in US adults aged ≥55 years with type 2 diabetes and indications for SGLT2is: NHANES 2013–2020
title_fullStr Urinary incontinence in US adults aged ≥55 years with type 2 diabetes and indications for SGLT2is: NHANES 2013–2020
title_full_unstemmed Urinary incontinence in US adults aged ≥55 years with type 2 diabetes and indications for SGLT2is: NHANES 2013–2020
title_short Urinary incontinence in US adults aged ≥55 years with type 2 diabetes and indications for SGLT2is: NHANES 2013–2020
title_sort urinary incontinence in us adults aged ≥55 years with type 2 diabetes and indications for sglt2is nhanes 2013 2020
url https://drc.bmj.com/content/13/4/e004929.full
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