Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms and Fall Risk: An Important Problem in Older Women with Cognitive Frailty

The objective of our study is to investigate the presence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and its correlation with the risk of falling in older women with cognitive frailty.

The descriptive study was conducted on 102 female older adults, 60 women were classed as cognitively frail and 42 as healthy. Women were classified as having mild cognitive impairment based on the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale and as frail based on the Clinical Frailty Scale. The Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms questionnaire and Timed Up and Go test were applied to determine LUTS and fall risk respectively.

Cognitively frail women scored considerably higher for LUTS including quality of life, filling, incontinence, and voiding, than the healthy group (p < 0.001). Timed Up and Go test seconds were significantly longer in cognitively frail women (p < 0.001).

These data suggest the notion that cognitive frailty might increase the risk of LUTS and falls. Older women at high fall risk are more likely to have LUTS. Thus, health practitioners must recognize that embarrassment may prevent individuals from seeking urinary care. Even in the absence of patient complaints, older women with cognitive frailty should have a comprehensive fall history and LUTS testing. Implementing LUTS and fall-risk measures may avoid future falls and serious complications such as fractures.