Urinary incontinence (UI) is not just a urology problem. A compelling new publication from the European Association of Urology (EAU), produced as part of its An Urge to Act campaign, makes the case that UI is a cross-cutting comorbidity — and ERN eUROGEN is helping to spread the word.
About the publication
Coexisting Conditions: Urinary Incontinence as a Non-Communicable Disease Comorbidity was launched at the EAU26 Congress in London in March 2026. It sets out the evidence that UI rarely occurs in isolation: its onset, severity, and treatment outcomes are deeply influenced by a wide range of other conditions, including cardiac failure, stroke, diabetes, chronic respiratory conditions, musculoskeletal disorders, neurological conditions, mental health conditions, and cancer. Crucially, the relationship is bi-directional — these conditions can cause or aggravate UI, and UI can in turn exacerbate existing health problems.
With 55–60 million Europeans experiencing continence health issues, and UI placing an estimated economic burden of €69.1 billion on Europe in 2023 alone, the publication argues that continence health must be recognised and prioritised in EU policy across multiple disease areas. The EAU is currently seeking a date to present the document formally in the European Parliament.
👉 The full booklet is available to read and download at uroweb.org/an-urge-to-act.
Why this matters for rare disease communities
ERN eUROGEN covers rare and complex uro-recto-genital conditions, many of which involve urinary incontinence as a defining or associated feature. But the relevance of this publication extends well beyond our own network. UI is a significant comorbidity across many rare disease communities, including those covered by fellow European Reference Networks:
- Cardiovascular diseases and cardiac failure — ERN GUARD-Heart
- Metabolic conditions, including diabetes — MetabERN
- Respiratory conditions — ERN-LUNG
- Musculoskeletal disorders — ERN EURO-NMD & ERN ReCONNET
- Neurological conditions — ERN-RND & ERN ITHACA
- Uro-recto-genital disorders — ERN eUROGEN & ERNICA
- Cancer and cancer treatments — EURACAN & ERN PaedCan
When UI coexists with another condition, it adds a significant additional layer of suffering for patients who are already carrying a heavy burden. Recognising and addressing this is essential not only for improving patients’ quality of life but also for making the broader case for continence health in EU policy.
ERN eUROGEN’s role
ERN eUROGEN is a proud member of the An Urge to Act campaign coalition. Our ePAG representative Anna De Santis participated in the launch session at EAU26, lending the patient voice to the discussion. We have also written to fellow ERNs to encourage them to share the publication with their healthcare providers, ePAG representatives, and clinical leads, and have shared it on our social media channels.
The more voices that amplify this message, the stronger the case becomes for integrating continence health into EU policy across multiple disease areas.
👉 Read and download the booklet: uroweb.org/an-urge-to-act
