[Characteristic Features of Urinary Incontinence--Diagnostic Investigation in Geriatric Patients]

Urinary incontinence is a common medical and social problem in elderly people. It leads to a massive reduction in the quality of life of affected persons and their dependants and causes an enormous socio-economic burden, which will increase significantly within the next years and decades as the age structure of the German population changes. Successful treatment of urinary incontinence in the elderly requires a good pathophysiological understanding of the underlying problem as well as individually tailored diagnostic procedures, which must be oriented at the patient's wishes, the social environment and the resulting therapeutic consequences. This especially applies to persons with symptoms of dementia. Comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus, reduced mobility and a medication-induced decrease in cognitive function play a major role in the severity of urgency and urinary incontinence in the elderly. Also the frequently described concomitant diagnosis of urinary tract infection must be exactly evaluated. Before antibiotic treatment is given, it should be clarified if the patient suffers from "harmless" bacteriuria or a urinary tract infection requiring treatment. Patients with an age-associated decrease in brain power must be diagnosed quite carefully, because these patients may potentially be harmed by pharmacological treatment for overactive bladder syndrome.