Fecal Incontinence Is Associated With Mortality Among Older Adults With Complex Needs: An Observational Cohort Study

Fecal incontinence (FI) is a problem in growing older populations. Validating a suspected association between FI and mortality in community dwelling older adults could lead to improved planning for and management of the increasing complex older population. In a large cohort of New Zealand older adults, we assessed the prevalence of FI, urinary incontinence (UI), combined FI and UI, and their associations with mortality.

This study consisted of a retrospective analysis of international standardized geriatric assessment-home care (InterRAI-HC) data from community-dwelling adults aged 65 years or older, who met the criteria required for the InterRAI-HC, having complex needs and being under consideration for residential care. The prevalence of UI and FI was analyzed. Data were adjusted for demography and 25 confounding factors. Mortality was the primary outcome measure.

The total cohort consisted of 41,932 older adults. Both UI and FI were associated with mortality (P<0.001), and risk of mortality increased with increased frequency of incontinence. In the adjusted model, FI remained significantly related to survival (P<0.001), whereas UI did not (P=0.31). Increased frequency of FI was associated with an increased likelihood of death (hazard ratio 1.28).

This large national study is the first study to prove a statistically significant relationship between FI and mortality in a large, old and functionally impaired community. These findings will help improve the management of increasingly complex older populations.