Health problems associated with lower urinary tract symptoms in older women. A population-based survey

To identify health problems associated with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in an older female population.

Population-based cross-sectional survey.

Third wave for the Tampere Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TamELSA) in 1999-2000.

A total of 203 women aged 70 years and over.

LUTS categorized as urge symptoms only, voiding symptoms only, and urge and voiding symptoms combined. The health indicators were polypharmacy (> 3 medications), use of sleeping medication, constipation, treated urinary tract infections (UTIs), and neurological, cardiovascular, and musculoskeletal diseases.

Of the respondents 16% reported urge symptoms, 22% voiding symptoms, and 26% combined symptoms. In the multinomial logistic regression models, constipation and musculoskeletal diseases were significantly associated with voiding symptoms (OR 4.33; 95% CI 1.62-11.57 and OR 5.25; 95% CI 1.94-14.18, respectively) and with combined symptoms (OR 4.33; 95% CI 1.67-11.21 and OR 2.84; 95% CI 1.17-6.89, respectively). UTIs (OR 2.78; 95% CI 1.09-7.08) were associated with combined symptoms.

Voiding symptoms comprise a significant part of lower urinary tract symptomalogy in older women. Although constipation, musculoskeletal diseases, and UTIs are the main health problems associated with LUTS, other concomitant diseases and medications also need to be assessed in older female patients with LUTS.