[Urinary incontinence a public disease among the elderly--affects both women and men]

Urinary incontinence is a common condition encountered by clinicians in many different disciplines. It is a symptom with widespread human and social implications, causing discomfort, shame and loss of self-confidence. In the elderly, urinary incontinence may be an important factor in the decision to institutionalize a person. The prevalence of urinary incontinence increases with advancing age in both men and women. Reasons for this are probably multifactorial, and may be due to one or more factors in the individual patient. Many elderly persons suffering from urinary incontinence do not wish to or are incapable of undergoing elaborate workup and treatment. It is important to individualize both workup and treatment of the elderly.