Prevalence of urinary incontinence in older Turkish women, risk factors, and effect on activities of daily living.

PURPOSE: The study was conducted to determine the prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) among older women, risk factors, and the effect on activities of daily living (ADLs).

METHOD: The study was conducted in family health centers located in a city in eastern Turkey. The study population consisted of 1094 women age 65 and older chosen with a simple random sampling method. The inclusion criteria were 65 years and older, female, and not diagnosed with mental or emotional diseases or conditions that obstruct communication. Data were collected in face-to-face interviews with the Questionnaire and Daily Life Activities Data Form created by the researchers based on the Roper, Logan, and Tierney model.

RESULTS: The prevalence of UI in women age 65 and older was 51.6%, and the most common type was urge incontinence. The number of births, number of abortions, age at last birth, and home births affected the development of UI (p<0.001). In addition, body mass index, constipation, urinary tract infection, cough, hormone replacement therapy, genital prolapse, cystocele, urogenital surgery, nocturia, and daily urine output were determined to be risk factors (p<0.001). Among the ADLs, 13.7% with UI reported that they had fallen when getting up from the toilet, 34.3% had experienced a sense of shame, 45.8% avoided coughing, and 46.5% restricted fluid intake.

CONCLUSION: Prevalence of UI in women age 65 and older was high, and the most common was urge incontinence. UI has many risk factors and affects many ADLs.