title: Urinary characteristics and infection in the very aged.
abstract: In the course of a health survey covering 561 inhabitants of Tampere, Finland, aged 85 or over, morning urine specimens were studied. 82% of the participants were women. Significant bacteriuria was recorded in 27% of the subjects, 13% of the men and 30% of the women. Pyuria was recorded in 47% of the total material. Replying to the questionnaire, 5% of the subjects reported urinary symptoms and 7% reported to be suffering from urinary tract infection (UTI) diagnosed by a physician. The prevalence of drug-treated UTI was 9% of the subjects replying to the questionnaire. Although positive urinary 'abnormalities' are common in very old people, they do not cause significant distress and do not constitute a disease requiring drug treatment in asymptomatic old people.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001437:Bacteriuria / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006029:Glycosuria; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000166:cytology; D008297:Male; D011507:Proteinuria; D014556:Urine / Q000166:cytology / Q000382:microbiology