[Clinical and diagnostic characteristics of bladder instability in urinary incontinence in the elderly]

Urinary incontinence is a common disease in elderly people, and the vesical instability is the most frequent cause. A prospective clinical study was done in elderly subjects with established urinary incontinence, produced by vesical instability, to find out if the analysis of several clinical parameters (general and urinary) together with the physical exam, are enough to establish a definitive diagnosis of vesical instability. The most characteristic urinary symptoms were urge incontinence (100%) and diurnal frequency (72%). Physical exam was normal in most patients. Our findings show that the clinical history and physical exam alone do not provide enough information to adequately characterize vesical instability, so, besides these parameters, an urodynamic study is needed to establish the originating mechanism of the urinary incontinence.