Association Between Absorbent Product Use and Quality of Life in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Absorbent products are widely used to manage incontinence. However, the circumstances under which they are used and whether burden differs by product type remain unclear. We conducted a population-based study to evaluate the association between incontinence-related quality of life (QOL) and absorbent product use and to compare burden across product types.

This cross-sectional study included independent, community-dwelling older adults aged ≥ 75 years in Japan. Incontinence status and absorbent product use were assessed using a self-reported questionnaire. Incontinence-related QOL and the burden of absorbent product use were evaluated using the one-item Quality of Life Disease Impact Scale. Logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between incontinence-related QOL and absorbent product use. Linear regression models were used to evaluate the burden across product types.

Among 3120 participants (median age, 79 years; interquartile range, 76-83), 43.1% reported any incontinence, including urinary incontinence (40.8%) and fecal incontinence (12.6%). Absorbent products were used by 14.7% of participants. Reduced incontinence-related QOL was associated with absorbent product use (OR: 2.02, 95% CI: 1.65-2.47; p < 0.001), independent of incontinence frequency. Compared with pants-type products, flat-type products tended to be associated with greater burden (β = 1.56, 95% CI: -0.089 to 3.21; p = 0.064), and a similar tendency was observed among participants with fecal incontinence.

Clinicians need to understand that absorbent product use reflects not only symptom frequency but also the impact of incontinence on QOL. Appropriate product selection based on individual incontinence characteristics may help reduce burden.