The association between recent cannabis use and urinary incontinence in women: a population-based analysis of the NHANES from 2009 to 2018

Introduction In this study, we investigated the association between recent cannabis use and urinary incontinence(UI) among women using the 2009–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Methods A total of 7889 women aged 20 years and older were included in the study. Respondents were dichotomized as recent users or non-users if they had used or not used cannabis in the past 30 days, respectively. Urinary incontinence (UI) was ascertained by self-report. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to adjust for sociodemographic and health-related covariates. Results Among 7889 women, 12.1% ( n = 955) of subjects reported recent cannabis use. In the adjusted analysis, recent users were more likely than non-users to report stress, urge and mixed incontinence (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.12–1.53, p < 0.001; OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.18–1.66, p < 0.001; and OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.12–1.53, p = 0.018). And, the association becomes more significant among heavy users (≥ 20 of the past 30 days) (SUI: OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.26–2.09, p < 0.001; UUI: OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.32–2.24, p < 0.001; and MUI: OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.20–2.25, p = 0.0019). Conclusion Recent cannabis use was associated with an increased likelihood of stress, urge and mixed incontinence in women.