Association between calf circumference and incontinence in Chinese elderly

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Urology
• Public Health

Background:

• Incontinence is a prevalent issue among the elderly, impacting quality of life.
• Identifying simple, non-invasive screening tools for incontinence risk is crucial for early intervention.
• Calf circumference as a potential indicator for incontinence has not been extensively studied in the Chinese elderly population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between calf circumference and incontinence in Chinese elderly individuals.
• To determine gender-specific maximal calf circumference cut-off points for screening incontinence risk.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from the 2018 Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS).
• Utilized receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to identify maximal calf circumference cut-off points.
• Employed logistic regression analysis to explore incontinence risk factors, adjusting for covariates.

Main Results:

• The study included 14,989 participants aged over 60.
• Incontinence prevalence was 5.23% in males and 8.31% in females.
• Optimal calf circumference cut-off points for predicting incontinence were <28.5 cm for males (OR=1.620) and <26.5 cm for females (OR=1.292) after adjusting for confounders.

Conclusions:

• Calf circumference <28.5 cm in males and <26.5 cm in females is a significant risk factor for incontinence in Chinese elderly.
• Routine measurement of calf circumference during physical examinations can aid in early identification of incontinence risk.
• Timely interventions based on calf circumference thresholds can help mitigate the risk of incontinence.