The geriatric incontinence syndrome: Characterizing geriatric incontinence in older women

Objectives Among older women, the clinical presentation of urinary incontinence (UI) is heterogeneous; presenting as a pelvic floor condition or geriatric syndrome. We aimed to characterize the geriatric incontinence syndrome (GIS) to establish its foundation in clinical practice. Design Prospective study. Setting Geriatric Clinical Research Unit. Participants Sixty-one community-dwelling women aged 70 and older with bothersome UI symptoms. Measurements UI symptom type and severity were determined by 3-day bladder diary. UI severity was defined; moderate UI defined as <2 UI episodes/day and severe UI defined as >= 2 UI episodes/day. Subjective assessment of physical performance was determined using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) score. Total SPPB scores >9 define normal physical performance and scores <= 9 defined impaired physical performance. Results The average age was 77.1 +/- 5.8 (mean +/- SD) years; 69% of women had severe UI and 31% had moderate UI. Demographic characteristics were similar between groups. Daytime voiding frequency was 7.1 +/- 2.9 and nocturia was present equally between groups. The majority of women (59%) with severe UI had SPPB <= 9 compared with 26% among women with moderate UI (p = 0.02); featuring significantly slower chair stand scores (2.3 +/- 1.4 vs 3.3 +/- 0.9, p = 0.007) and gait speed (0.08 +/- 0.2 m/s compared with 1.0 +/- 0.2 in women with moderate UI). Conclusions A multifactorial GIS may be present in older women evidenced by the co-existence of severe UI, physical disability, slower chair stand pace, and gait speed. Prospective studies are needed to understand how these clinical features may impact the clinical care of older incontinent women.

Automated summary

This study aimed to characterize geriatric incontinence syndrome in older women, finding that women with severe urinary incontinence generally had impaired physical performance, including slower chair stand pace and gait speed.