Urinary incontinence and life-space activity/mobility additively increase the risk of incident disability among older adults

Objectives: To examine the associations of a combination of urinary incontinence (UI) and life-space activity/ mobility with the risk of incident disability among community-dwelling older adults.Study design: The participants were 12,808 older adults for the cross-sectional study and 12,516 older adults who completed the follow-up assessment.Main outcome measures: UI was assessed using a questionnaire. Life-space activity/mobility was evaluated using total, physical, and social scores on the Active Mobility Index (AMI). Participants were classified into four groups (high AMI total score + no UI; high AMI total score + UI; low AMI total score + no UI; low AMI total score + UI). Incident disability was extracted from the Japanese Long-Term Care System.Results: During the 24-month follow-up, 562 participants (4.5 %) developed disability. Those with a low AMI score + no UI (hazard ratio, 1.35; 95 % confidence interval, 1.07-1.71) and those with a low AMI score + UI (hazard ratio, 2.00; 95 % confidence interval, 1.56-2.56) had a higher risk of incident disability than those with a high AMI score + no UI in the follow-up analysis.Conclusions: A combination of UI and low AMI score was associated with an increased risk of incident disability, whereas having UI but a high AMI score was not associated with an increased risk of incident disability. Our findings may help identify older adults at high risk of developing disabilities.

Automated summary

The combination of urinary incontinence and low life-space activity/mobility is associated with an increased risk of incident disability among older adults, while having urinary incontinence but high life-space activity/mobility is not associated with an increased risk of incident disability.