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PREVALENCE of URINARY INCONTINENCE in RURAL GREEK COMMUNITY-DWELLING ELDERLY
Alokrios G., Spatharakis G., Lianas D., Apostolopoulou A., Rizou St., Diaz L., Theodoropoulos P.
Although its negative impact, involuntary urine loss is greatly under-reported to doctors. Additionally, because of its complexity, urinary incontinence poses difficulties for the Primary Care Physician on its etiological diagnosis and management.
Aim : The study of prevalence of urinary incontinence in community-dwelling elderly of a rural, semi-mountainous region of Greece.
Methods : The study included 614 elderly persons, inhabitants of the Farroi Municipality, Peloponese, 261 men[42,51%], m.a.74 years and 353 women[57,49%], m.a.77. During a three-year programmed house visits, using a structured questionnaire, medical personnel specifically investigated the existence of urinary incontinence, its nature and the presence of etiologic factors (especially corrigible).
Results : 172(28,01%) elderly were found to present of urinary incontinence with women accounting for 132 cases (76,74%-37,93% of the total population) and men for 40 (23,26%-15,33%). Permanent incontinence was recorded in 93 persons (54,07%) while a circumstantial one in 79(45,93%). 101(58,72%) of the elderly dispose of a W.C. only outside of and remotely from the main house building and of these 55(54,46%) bear a permanent incontinence.
Conclusions : 1) Urinary incontinence is confirmed to be an important health and quality of life issue for community-dwelling elderly, especially women, as more than 1/3 of them suffer from it. 2) The proportion of chronic/permanent incontinence seems rather high. 3) In many instances -in this rural semi-mountainous sample- urinary incontinence is aggravated by housing difficulties (W.C. outside and far from the home). 4) Geriatricians and Primary Health Care Physicians have also to deal with this kind of reality and propose concrete solutions.
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