[Urinary incontinence and urinary tract infections in 70-89 years old women.]

The purpose of the study was to investigate the prevalence and presentation of urinary incontinence (UI) and urinary tract infection (UTI) among elderly women.

A total of 120 women, aged 70-89 years, were randomly selected and asked about urogenital complaints in a structured interview. Seventy were living in homes for the elderly and 50 living at home. Medical records provided information about urinary tract infections and the use of estrogens.

Types and frequency of urinary incontinence and urogenital complaints and estrogen use.

Urinary incontinence affexted 47.5%, half of them daily. Urge incontinence was most common (39%), then mixed incontinence (32%) and stress incontinence (26%). Urge and mixed incontinence caused significantly more discomfort than stress incontinence. During the past two years 35% of the women had experienced UTI and 11% had five or more infections. A total of 27 women were receiving estron treatment, the mahority in homes for the elderly (p<0.001). They had a high prevalence of UI, UTI , and other complaints compared to women not receiving estrogens. Considerable or great discomfort from the urogenital tract was reported by 21% of the women. A third of the women had discussed urogenital complaints with a physician.

In view of the prevalence of urogenital complaints, it is likely that more elderly women could benefit from medical assessement and treatment. Indications for estrogen treatment need to be more clearly defined. Physicians might improve management by using preventive measures, affirmative questioning and more diagnostic work-up and thus improve the quality of life of elderly women.