title: Urinary incontinence in the elderly: relation to cognitive and motor function.
abstract: Urinary incontinence is a common problem in older subjects, very often wrongfully accepted as a normal part of the aging process. A total of 520 subjects (208 males and 312 females; mean age 74.8 +/- 11.8 years), from both private- and nursing-home dwelling populations, were included in this study aimed to estimate the incidence of urinary incontinence and identify factors associated with condition, in aged subjects. The incidence and type of urinary incontinence (stress, urge or mixed incontinence) were assessed by structured questionnaires and diagnosis was confirmed by a seven-day consecutive voiding diary. Assessment of physical, cognitive and emotional functions was performed on each subject using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale (IADL), Tinetti Scale (gait), Tinetti Scale (balance) and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) instruments. In the total population sample the incidence of urinary incontinence was 47.9%. The incontinence cases were classified, according to the different types, as: stress incontinence (males: 3.4%; females: 8.7%; males+females: 6.5%); urge incontinence (males: 27.4%; females: 31.4%; males+females: 29.8%); mixed incontinence (males: 20.2%; females: 5.8%; males+females: 11.5%). In the total population sample, no significant relationship was found between age and prevalence of urinary incontinence. In the elderly female group, age significantly correlated in a direct manner with urge incontinence (P<0.01) and inversely with stress incontinence (P<0.001). Only in the male sex group age significantly correlated with mixed incontinence (P<0.005). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the dependent variable 'incontinence' could be predicted by MMSE (P<0.001) in the male sex group and by the Tinetti Scale (gait) (P<0.001) in the female sex group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Medicine and Metabolic Diseases, II University of Naples, Policlinico Universitario, Piazza Miraglia 2, 80138 Naples, Italy. ludovicocoppola@unina2.it
authors.forename: Ludovico
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Coppola
authors.forename: Francescosaverio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caserta
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grassia
authors.forename: Luigia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mastrolorenzo
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Altrui
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tondi
authors.forename: Sossio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Verde
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coppola