Urinary incontinence in the hospitalised elderly--a largely reversible disorder

A five-month prospective study of urinary incontinence in the elderly was carried out in an acute assessment and rehabilitation geriatric ward to determine the incidence, underlying causes and outcome with management. The incidence in patients 65 years or older was 22%. Of these, 21% had transient incontinence which resolved after the precipitating medical cause was treated. Incontinence was resolved in 36% and improvement obtained in another 20%. Management of urinary incontinence in this population can result in a satisfactory outcome in more than half of patients and is worth pursuing.