Urinary incontinence in the elderly

Urinary incontinence is a common clinical problem in the elderly population, and can affect men and women. Chronic incontinence can lead to impairments in overall functional status and is associated with significant negative effects on both overall and health-related quality of life. Careful clinical evaluation can be useful to differentiate among the various types of urinary incontinence, and can help to identify the potential cause of the condition. A wide variety of behavioral, pharmacologic, and surgical therapies are available to treat urinary incontinence, and these may be used alone or in combination. Treatment can help to improve or eliminate symptoms for many patients, leading to enhanced quality of life and improved functional status.