Older women and men with urinary symptoms

• Published in: Archives of gerontology and geriatrics Vol. 43; no. 2; pp. 249 - 265
• Main Authors: Stenzelius, Karin, Westergren, Albert, Mattiasson, Anders, Hallberg, Ingalill Rahm
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01-09-2006
• Subjects: 75 and over; Activities of Daily Living; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Annan medicin och hälsovetenskap; Clinical Medicine; Dependency; Factor Analysis, Statistical; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Gender; Gerontologi, medicinsk/hälsovetenskaplig inriktning; Gerontology, specialising in Medical and Health Sciences; Health Sciences; Help seeking; Humans; Hälsovetenskap; Klinisk medicin; Logistic Models; Lower urinary tract symptoms; Male; Medical and Health Sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Other Medical Sciences; Prevalence; Quality of Life; Sickness Impact Profile; Surveys and Questionnaires; Urinary incontinence; Urinary Incontinence - physiopathology; Urinary Incontinence - psychology; Urination Disorders - physiopathology; Urination Disorders - psychology; Urologi och njurmedicin; Urology and Nephrology; 75 and over; Urinary incontinence; Help seeking; Aged; Gender; Dependency; Lower urinary tract symptoms
• ISSN: 0167-4943; 1872-6976; 1872-6976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2005.11.001

The aim was to compare urinary symptoms and their influence on daily life among elderly (75+) women and men in a sample that previously had reported difficulties controlling urine (urine incontinence (UI)) and/or other urinary symptoms (OU). A further aim was to find underlying structures of urinary symptoms and to identify symptoms that had an impact on seeking medical help and need of help in daily activities (dependency). In total, 771 persons (352 men and 419 women) over 75 years answered a questionnaire, addressed to those (
n
=
1881) who in a previous population-based study had reported having symptoms of UI and/or OU using the Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (BF-LUTS) questionnaire and International Continence Society male (ICSmale) questionnaire. The groups with UI, OU, women and men reported similar symptoms of frequency, day and night, as well as influence on social life, and avoidance of places and situations due to the urinary symptoms although they differed in storage and voiding symptoms. Feeling incomplete emptying of bladder differed between the UI, OU, and mixed symptoms (MS) groups but not between genders. Of the whole sample, 43.3% had sought medical help. Factor analysis of similar questions in BF-LUTS and ICSmale questionnaire resulted in the factors labeled
voiding,
storage,
pain,
frequency, and
daily life. Predictors of the urinary symptoms for needing help in daily activities were frequent micturition day and night (OR 3.2) when aged was controlled for. Influence on daily life (OR 2.5), storage symptoms (OR 2.2), and pain symptoms (OR 2.1) predicted seeking medical help. The results show that urinary symptoms are equally bothersome among men and women. There is a need to encourage elderly to seek medical help and to obtain treatment or alleviations for symptoms that give most bother and indicate dependency, such as frequent micturition day and night and difficulties to reach the toilet in time without leakage.