Urinary incontinence among male veterans receiving care in primary care clinics.
BACKGROUND
Male urinary incontinence is not a well-investigated subject.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence and consequences of incontinence in men.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey.


METHODS
3 primary care clinics in a Kentucky Veterans Affairs facility.


METHODS
840 men with a mean age of 59.8 years (range, 25 to 93 years).


METHODS
Written survey on patient demographic information and continence, including the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire.


RESULTS
Among all study patients, 32.3% reported incontinence within the past 12 months and 13.8% (43% of those who were incontinent) reported at least weekly episodes. Age did not correlate with frequency or amount of urine loss. Frequency correlated with emotional health, social relationships, physical activity, and travel. Greater amounts of lost urine had a stronger effect on emotional health, social relationships, and travel. Among men with incontinence, only 32% had discussed incontinence with their medical provider but 75% desired evaluation and treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Urinary incontinence is common among male veterans and affects all age groups. Although incontinence often has unfavorable consequences on quality of life and although men with incontinence desired treatment, they seldom discussed the problem with medical providers. Systematic screening of men for urinary incontinence may be necessary.
Smoger
S H
SH
Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Louisville and Louisville Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Kentucky 40292, USA. shsmog01@med.louisville.edu
Felice
T L
TL
Kloecker
G H
GH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014195:Travel; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology