SynthesisNeurourology and urodynamics2026
Urinary Incontinence and Risk of All-Cause Mortality: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies.
Synthesis in Neurourology and urodynamics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Urinary Incontinence and Risk of All-Cause Mortality: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies.Neurourology and urodynamics · 2026Pooled it
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
Abstract
aimsUrinary incontinence (UI) is a prevalent condition among adults and imposes a substantial societal burden, yet its association with all-cause mortality remains uncertain. This study systematically reviewed and quantified the association between UI and mortality risk.
methodsA systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library from inception to January 10, 2026, following PRISMA guidelines. Observational cohort studies comparing all-cause mortality between individuals with and without UI were included. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using random-effects models. Prespecified subgroup analyses and random-effects meta-regression were performed to explore heterogeneity, and the certainty of evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach.
resultsSeventeen studies involving 82,739 participants were included. UI was associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality (HR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.07-1.34), although heterogeneity was substantial (I² = 80.4%). Sensitivity analyses supported the robustness of the observed association. Subgroup analyses suggested stronger associations with increasing UI severity (HR = 1.20, 1.27, and 1.67 across severity categories) and in studies with shorter follow-up ( < 5 years, HR = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.20-2.98), raising the possibility of reverse causation. Meta-regression identified diagnostic modality (p = 0.026) as a potential contributor to heterogeneity. The certainty of evidence was rated as very low.
conclusionsUI was associated with increased all-cause mortality; however, this finding should be interpreted cautiously due to substantial heterogeneity, potential residual confounding, and potential reverse causation. Rather than indicating a direct causal effect, UI may function primarily as a clinical marker of frailty, multimorbidity, and overall health decline. Further well-designed prospective studies with repeated exposure assessment and more comprehensive adjustment for frailty and comorbidity are needed.
trial registrationThis systematic review and meta-analysis was registered with PROSPERO (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews) under the registration number CRD42024618197.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.