Economics of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in older people.
Urinary incontinence is an area of clinical and social importance to older people and providers of care. This article provides an update on the 'symptom' of urinary incontinence and reviews the concept of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). The challenges facing health services researchers working in this field are also discussed in terms of trying to quantify the size and extent of the underlying problem. Economic issues and work undertaken to evaluate the cost of LUTS are appraised and the common nonsurgical treatments for LUTS are described together with associated conditions and their cost implications. The cost to individuals and society of LUTS is generally underestimated and the importance of reducing its severity (if cure is not achievable) makes clinical and economic sense.
Azam
U
U
Leicestershire MRC Incontinence Study, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Leicester, England. usman.azam@pfizer.com
Castleden
M
M
Turner
D
D
D000368:Aged; D017281:Cost of Illness; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D001745:Urinary Bladder Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000191:economics* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics; D014553:Urinary Tract Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics