Abstract
BackgroundThe main objective of the present study was to determine whether UI is an independent predictor of ADL decline and IADL decline in elderly women. We also aimed to find out whether incontinent subjects were at higher risk of needing help from formal home care or home nursing care during 11 year follow-up.MethodsA prospective cohort study conducted as part of the North-Trøndelag Health Study 2 and 3. Women aged 70–80 years when participating in the HUNT 2 study, who also participated in the HUNT 3 study, were included in this study. Analyses on self-reported urinary incontinence at baseline and functional decline during a11-year period were performed for incontinent and continent subjects.ResultsBaseline prevalence of urinary incontinence was 24%. At on average eleven year follow up, logistic regression analysis showed a significant association between incontinence and decline in activities of daily living (ADL) (OR =2.37, 95% CI =1.01-5.58) (P=0.04). No association between urinary incontinence and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) in incontinent women compared with continent women was found (OR=1.18, CI=.75-1.86) (P=.46). Data were adjusted for ADL, IADL and co morbid conditions at baseline. No significant differences in need of more help from formal home care and home nursing care between continent and incontinent women were found after 11 years of follow-up.ConclusionsUrinary incontinence is an important factor associated with functional decline in women aged 70–80 years living in their own homes. At eleven years of follow up, no significant differences in need of more help from formal home care and home nursing care between continent and incontinent women were found.
Highlights
The main objective of the present study was to determine whether Urinary incontinence (UI) is an independent predictor of Activities of Daily Living (ADL) decline and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) decline in elderly women
Previous studies in community-dwelling older people have suggested that the disability to perform Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) may be associated with new onset urinary incontinence in the older population [7,8,9,10,11]
The main objective of the present study was to determine whether UI was an independent predictor in ADL decline and IADL decline during an eleven year follow up period in women aged 70–80 years at baseline, living in their own homes
Summary
The main objective of the present study was to determine whether UI is an independent predictor of ADL decline and IADL decline in elderly women. Previous studies in community-dwelling older people have suggested that the disability to perform Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) may be associated with new onset urinary incontinence in the older population [7,8,9,10,11]. Hébert suggest that UI should be evaluated as a risk factor for loss of functional independency [12]. Both the feeling of losing control over ones bladder function and independency in ADL and IADL might cause reduced quality of life, depression and social isolation [13,14]
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