Urinary incontinence (UI) and depression are prevalent conditions affecting millions globally and are significantly associated with various demographic, health, and socio-economic factors. This study examines the trends and associations of UI and depression over a 14-year period using nationwide data. We analyzed data from the Turkish Health Studies Surveys conducted in seven years between 2008 and 2022, including 125,279 participants aged 15 and older, excluding those with incomplete key health data. Variables included chronic conditions, BMI, depression severity (assessed by PHQ-8), socio-economic status, and lifestyle factors. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to investigate associations between UI and various risk factors over time. The prevalence of UI and depression fluctuated over the 14-years, with a significant increase observed in 2014. Multivariate analysis confirmed a strong and consistent association between UI and depression across genders and age groups, even after adjusting for confounders. Higher depression severity increased the odds of experiencing UI. Age, multiple comorbidities, higher BMI, and lower socio-economic status were associated with an increased likelihood of UI. Obesity was a significant risk factor for UI in females but not in males. Urban living and higher education levels were inversely associated with UI. The simultaneous rise in UI and depression in 2014 may be linked to socioeconomic changes during that period. The findings suggest a robust link between UI and depression, influenced by a complex interplay of health, demographic, and socio-economic factors, needing prospective studies to further investigate the causal pathway of these associations.

The authors have declared no competing interest.

MK received partial financial support from TUBITAK Directorate of Science Fellowships and Grant Programmes (BIDEB)-2232 International Fellowship for Outstanding Researchers (Award No: 118C306).

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Ethical approval was granted by the Istanbul Medipol University Ethics Committee (Application number: 10840098-604.01.01-E.53819). All procedures were carried out in compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki.

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