Do continence management strategies reduce falls? a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Geriatric Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Urinary incontinence is linked to a higher risk of falls in older adults.
• Fall prevention programs often recommend continence management, but supporting evidence is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify effective continence management interventions for reducing falls in older adults.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review of the literature was performed.
• Four studies (two RCTs, one cohort, one uncontrolled) evaluating continence strategies and fall outcomes in older adults were included.
• Data extraction and quality assessment were conducted by two independent reviewers.

Main Results:

• Interventions included pharmacological agents, a toileting regime with physical activity, and individualized continence programs.
• Only one study, combining physical activity and prompted voiding, demonstrated a significant effect on reducing falls.
• Limited research exists on continence management interventions specifically targeting fall outcomes.

Conclusions:

• A toileting regime combined with physical activity may be effective in reducing falls, particularly in residential care settings.
• Further research is necessary to investigate the impact of various continence management strategies on fall prevention in older populations.