Office management of geriatric urinary incontinence.
Urinary incontinence is a common and potentially disabling condition affecting 15% to 30% of those aged 65 years and older. It adversely affects physical health, psychological well-being, and health care costs. Even when it is not curable, proper management of urinary incontinence can lead to improved quality of life for patients and caregivers. Despite its prevalence, many geriatric patients suffering from urinary incontinence are undiagnosed and untreated. Patients often do not report the problem, and health care professionals often do not ask about it. Health care professionals should therefore learn to identify, evaluate, and manage urinary incontinence based upon the available evidence and practice guidelines. Although the evidence base for specific recommendations for the office evaluation and management of geriatric urinary incontinence is limited, a basic evaluation to identify treatable causes of incontinence, referral of appropriate patients for further evaluation, and several noninvasive management strategies can greatly improve these symptoms in many older patients.
Gibbs
Cassandra F
CF
Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Wesley Woods Health Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Ga 30329, USA. cgibs2@emory.edu
Johnson
Theodore M
TM
Ouslander
Joseph G
JG
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D014563:Urodynamics; D013520:Urologic Surgical Procedures