Urinary incontinence in the geriatric population

Urinary incontinence in the geriatric population is prevalent, morbid, and costly. Despite the high prevalence and adverse effects, many incontinent geriatric patients do not undergo any type of diagnostic evaluation. Assessment of incontinence in this patient population should focus on identifying reversible factors that may contribute to the incontinence, determining whether the patient should be referred for further evaluation before initiating treatment, and pinpointing the cause(s) of the incontinence so that appropriate treatment can be instituted. Many different therapeutic modalities can be helpful for geriatric urinary incontinence, including behavioral, pharmacologic, and surgical approaches. Chronic catheters and diapers should generally not be used as the initial treatment, and be reserved for patients who fail more specific treatment approaches. Although it may not be possible to cure the incontinence, it is almost always possible to ameliorate the problem, and prevent discomfort, complications, and excessive costs.