title: Urinary incontinence in the elderly. Often simple to treat when properly evaluated.
abstract: Urinary incontinence is a prevalent problem in the elderly, and its medical, social, and economic costs are significant. Incontinence may be transient or long-standing; reversible causes must be ruled out. Thorough history taking, a targeted physical examination, and simple office tests usually lead to a diagnosis. When the type of incontinence is known, appropriate treatment may bring improvement in symptoms or a return to continence. Clinicians and patients alike benefit from the realization that urinary incontinence is a treatable problem.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Richmond, VA 23249, USA.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Rosenthal
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: McMurtry
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003559:Cystostomy; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D010808:Physical Examination; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012307:Risk Factors; D014546:Urinary Catheterization; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D014551:Urinary Tract / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D014553:Urinary Tract Physiological Phenomena