Birthweight and urinary incontinence after childbirth: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Birthweight and urinary incontinence after childbirth: a systematic review and meta-analysis Stian Langeland Wesnes*,1, Elin Seim Research Group for General Practice, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Norway A R T I C L E I N F O Article history: Received 9 April 2020 Received in revised form 24 August 2020 Accepted 28 August 2020 Available online 4 September 2020 Keywords: birthweight childbirth postpartum puerperium urinary incontinence A B S T R A C T Birthweight and urinary incontinence after childbirth: a systematic review and meta-analysis Stian Langeland WESNES, Elin SEIM MD Urinary incontinence (UI) is common after childbirth. Many cohort and cross-sectional studies have reported data on birthweight, but results have not been pooled. It is unclear how birthweight affects UI after childbirth. The objective is to review the effect of birthweight on UI after childbirth through metaanalyses. Searches were performed in Medline, Embase, Svemed+, ClinicalTrials.gov, Cochrane, and Cinahl in August 2016. Additional reference checking was performed. Included articles evaluated birthweight as a possible risk factor for maternal UI. We included articles that were presented in Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, or English. Two independent reviewers extracted the data and analysed it using Review Manager 5.3 software. Available data from included studies on birthweight ( 4000 g and 3500 g, respectively) and UI were combined in meta-analyses. PRISMA and MOOSE guidelines were used. Eighteen studies (N = 30 070) reported data on birthweight >4000 g vs <4000 g. Birthweight>4000 g compared to weight <4000 g was associated with a significantly increased OR of any UI (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.24 – 1.80). Five studies (N = 15 066) reported data on birthweight >3500 g vs <3500 g. Birthweight>3500 g was also associated with a significantly increased OR of UI (OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.15 – 1.37). High birthweight appears to increase OR of UI after childbirth. Preventative strategies should be targeted towards women at particular risk.