Urinary incontinence and psychological distress in community-dwelling older African Americans and whites.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the association between urinary incontinence (UI) and psychological distress in older African Americans and whites.


METHODS
A population-based longitudinal survey.


METHODS
Continuing participants in a study of community-dwelling adults who were initially living in East Baltimore in 1981.


METHODS
African Americans and whites aged 50 and older at follow-up interviews performed between 1993 and 1996 for whom complete data were available (n=747).


METHODS
Participants were classified as incontinent if any uncontrolled urine loss within the 12 months before the interview was reported. Psychological distress was assessed using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ).


RESULTS
African Americans with UI were more likely to experience psychological distress as measured using the GHQ than were African Americans without UI (unadjusted odds ratio=4.22, 95% confidence interval=1.72-10.39). In multivariate models that controlled for age, sex, education, functional status, cognitive status, and chronic medical conditions, this association remained statistically significant. The association between UI and psychological distress did not achieve statistical significance in whites.


CONCLUSIONS
The effect of UI on emotional well-being may be greater for African Americans than for whites.
Bogner
Hillary R
HR
Department of Family Practice and Community Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 2 Gates Building, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. bogner@mail.med.upenn.edu
D000368:Aged; D044383:Black People / Q000523:psychology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008396:Maryland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology*; D001741:Black or African American