Relationship of urinary incontinence and late-life disability: Implications for clinical work and research in geriatrics

Abstract

The role of urinary incontinence (UI) in the disablement process model has been mainly defined according to its impact on quality of life, global wellbeing, life satisfaction, institutionalization and death, which are global outcomes of disability. Recent research focused on the "active" role of UI in the main pathway of the disablement process model, i.e. actively involved in the causes of disability. The aim of this paper is to review the complex current scientific evidence on this second active role and to define the implications for further research and for clinical work in geriatrics. The relationship between UI and disability can be classified in the following five pathways:1) UI as risk factor for functional decline and reduced physical activity through the increased risk of falls and fractures.2) Functional decline and reduced physical activity as risk factors for the onset of UI.3) Shared risk factors for UI and functional decline: white matter changes, stroke and other neurological conditions.4) UI in a unifying conceptual framework: the multifactorial etiology of geriatric syndromes.5) UI as an indicator of frailty.Understanding these pathways could improve insight into clinical, pharmacological, environmental, behavioral and rehabilitative mechanisms to define measures for the prevention and treatment of the geriatric syndromes cascade. However, research on effective interventions on these overlapping areas is still quite rare. Additionally there is an urgent need to use the standardized terminology of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), established by the International Continence Society (ICS) to find a common language in disability research. To conclude, the relationship of UI and disability is evident in different pathways. Understanding these associations can have substantial implications for both clinical work and research in this area.