ObjectiveTo explore the correlation between urinary disorders and imaging changes of cerebral small vessel diseases (CSVDs) in community-dwelling populations.MethodsA cross-sectional analysis was conducted on participants enrolled in the Shunyi study from June 2013 to April 2016. Eligible participants were community-dwelling populations aged ≥35 years with interpretable magnetic resonance imaging scans and no history of stroke or urinary system diseases. Data on demographic characteristics, vascular risk factors, cognitive functions, and urinary disorders (including any form of urinary disorders, incontinence, daytime urination frequency, and nocturnal urination frequency) were collected. Imaging changes including white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), lacunes, cerebral microbleeds (CMBs), perivascular spaces (PVSs), and brain volume were measured using 3 T magnetic resonance imaging. Logistic regression model analysis was performed to identify the potential correlations between urinary disorders and imaging markers of CSVD.ResultsA total of 916 participants (with a mean age of 57.4 years; 36.2% were males) were finally enrolled in this study based on the enrollment criteria. CSVD imaging changes of WMHs, lacunes, CMBs, PVSs or brain volume were not associated with any form of urinary disorders in multivariable models (P>0.05). CSVD imaging changes were not associated with presence of urinary incontinence (P>0.05). In terms of urinary frequency, the CSVD imaging changes were not related to nocturnal urinary frequency (P>0.05). However, lower brain volume was correlated with daytime urination frequency [3-5 vs. <3 times per day: odds ratio (OR)=2.520, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.278, 4.972), P=0.008; >5 vs. <3 times per day: OR=3.115, 95%CI (1.317, 7.372), P=0.010].ConclusionBrain atrophy may affect daytime urination frequency in community-dwelling populations.