Management of Urinary Incontinence in the Elderly

Abstract

URINARY incontinence in the elderly is prevalent, morbid, costly, and neglected. It affects 5 to 15 per cent of elderly people living in the community,¹ and its prevalence increases to approximately 40 per cent in hospitalized patients^{2 , 3} and to over 50 per cent in institutionalized populations.^{4 , 5} Neurologic impairment, immobility, and female sex are independent risk factors for incontinence, but neither advanced age nor chronic bacteriuria seem to be.^{6 , 7} The costs of incontinence are medical (cystitis, urosepsis, pressure sores, perineal rashes, and falls), psychosocial (embarrassment, isolation, depression, and predisposition to institutionalization), and economic. Over $8 billion per year⁸ is devoted to . . .