Ingalill Rahm Hallberg
Professor emerita
Older women and men with urinary symptoms.
Author
Summary, in English
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.
Department/s
- Department of Health Sciences
- Care in high technological environments
- Urology
Publishing year
2006
Language
English
Pages
249-265
Publication/Series
Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics
Volume
43
Issue
2
Full text
- Available as PDF - 125 kB
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Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Elsevier
Topic
- Health Sciences
- Urology and Nephrology
Keywords
- Aged
- 75 and over
- Lower urinary tract symptoms
- Urinary incontinence
- Gender
- Dependency
- Help seeking
Status
Published
Research group
- Care in high technological environments
- Urology
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 1872-6976