Association between random blood glucose, HbA1c levels and severity of urinary incontinence in older adults: An observational, cross‑sectional and correlation‑based approach using the ICIQ‑UI short form

Siola,Silvia; Warli,Syah Mirsya; Sitorus,Mega Sari; Arto,Nindia Sugih; Mahfuz,Muhammad Ainul

doi:10.3892/wasj.2025.420

January-February 2026 Volume 8 Issue 1

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January-February 2026 Volume 8 Issue 1

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Association between random blood glucose, HbA1c levels and severity of urinary incontinence in older adults: An observational, cross‑sectional and correlation‑based approach using the ICIQ‑UI short form

Authors:
- Silvia Siola
- Syah Mirsya Warli
- Mega Sari Sitorus
- Nindia Sugih Arto
- Muhammad Ainul Mahfuz
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Affiliations: Faculty of Medicine, University of Sumatera Utara, Medan 20222, Indonesia, Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara‑Haji Adam Malik General Hospital, Medan 20136, Indonesia, Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan 20222, Indonesia, Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan 20222, Indonesia, Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia‑Haji Adam Malik General Hospital, Medan 20136, Indonesia

Copyright: © Siola et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License [CC BY 4.0].
Article Number: 5
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Published online on: December 4, 2025

https://doi.org/10.3892/wasj.2025.420
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Abstract

Urinary incontinence, the involuntary leakage of urine, is a common, yet underreported issue among older adults, with its prevalence markedly increasing with age and often leading to a loss of independence, social withdrawal and psychological distress. Diabetes mellitus is considered to aggravate urinary incontinence via neuropathy, impaired bladder innervation and detrusor dysfunction. Although random blood glucose (RBG) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) are widely used markers of glycemic control, their direct association with incontinence severity has not yet been fully established, particularly in elderly Asian populations. The present observational, cross‑sectional and correlation‑based study evaluated the association between RBG, HbA1c and the severity of urinary incontinence using the International Consultant Incontinence Questionnaire‑Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ‑UISF). A total of 100 elderly patients (≥60 years of age; 52 males and 48 females; median age, 66 years) were recruited for the present study. The median RBG level was 274 mg/dl and the median HbA1c level was 8.50%. Among the participants, 82% reported urinary incontinence (36% patients had severe incontinence, 24% had moderate incontinence, 12% had mild incontinence and 10% had very severe incontinence). Small‑volume leakage was most common (55%), and 36% of patients rated their quality‑of‑life impact as maximal (score, 10). Spearman's correlation analysis did not reveal any significant correlation between RBG and ICIQ‑UISF scores (ρ=‑0.016, P=0.877) or between HbA1c and ICIQ‑UISF scores (ρ=0.047, P=0.641), whereas age demonstrated a weak, yet significant positive correlation with ICIQ‑UISF scores (ρ=0.242, P=0.015). On the whole, these findings suggest that urinary incontinence in older adults is influenced to a greater extent by an age‑related physiological decline than glycemic markers, underscoring the multifactorial nature of the condition and highlighting the importance of comprehensive geriatric assessment and the exploration of additional predictors in future studies.

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Journals

International Journal of Molecular Medicine

International Journal of Oncology

Molecular Medicine Reports

Oncology Reports

Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine

Oncology Letters

Biomedical Reports

Molecular and Clinical Oncology

World Academy of Sciences Journal

International Journal of Functional Nutrition

International Journal of Epigenetics

Medicine International

Association between random blood glucose, HbA1c levels and severity of urinary incontinence in older adults: An observational, cross‑sectional and correlation‑based approach using the ICIQ‑UI short form

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