genitourinary disorders
Urinary Incontinence in Adults
Introduction
Urinary incontinence is involuntary loss of urine; some experts consider it present only when a patient thinks it is a problem. The disorder is greatly underrecognized and underreported. Many patients do not report the problem to their physician, and many physicians do not ask about incontinence specifically. Incontinence can occur at any age but is more common among older adults and women, affecting about 30% of older women and 15% of older men. Incontinence greatly reduces quality of life by causing embarrassment, stigmatization, isolation, and depression. Many older patients are institutionalized because incontinence is a burden to caregivers. In bedbound patients, urine irritates and macerates skin, contributing to sacral pressure ulcer formation. Older adults with urgency are at increased risk of falls and fractures. (See also Urinary Incontinence in Children and 