title: Urinary incontinence.
abstract: The involuntary loss of urine in a quantity or frequency sufficient to cause a social or hygienic problem is known as urinary incontinence. This common condition, affecting over 10 million adults, afflicts an estimated 30% of all older persons, as well as 50% to 70% of older residents in nursing homes. The clinical importance of urinary incontinence is due primarily to its adverse effects on psychologic health and social interactions; effects on physical health, such as skin maceration and recurrent urinary tract infections, are relatively minor. Because symptomatic improvement or cure is possible in many cases, health care providers should ask specific questions about symptoms of urinary incontinence and then provide appropriate evaluation and management of this common condition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7110, USA.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Busby-Whitehead
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy