Prevalence and severity of urinary incontinence in older African American and Caucasian women.

TitlePrevalence and severity of urinary incontinence in older African American and Caucasian women.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication1999
AuthorsFultz, NH, Herzog, AR, Raghunathan, TE, Wallace, RB, Diokno, AC
JournalJ Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci
Volume54
Issue6
PaginationM299-303
Date Published1999 Jun
ISSN Number1079-5006
Call Numberpubs_1997_Fultz_NJGSeriesB.pdf
KeywordsAged, Aged, 80 and over, Black or African American, Female, Humans, Prevalence, Risk Factors, United States, Urinary incontinence, White People
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Few studies have investigated the prevalence and severity of urinary incontinence in older African American women. Comparisons of findings with those for older Caucasian women could provide important clues to the etiology of urinary incontinence and be used in planning screening programs and treatment services.

METHODS: Data are from the first wave of the Asset and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old (AHEAD) study. A nationally representative sample of noninstitutionalized adults 70 years of age and older was interviewed. African Americans were oversampled to ensure that there would be enough minority respondents to compare findings across racial groups.

RESULTS: A statistically significant relationship was found between race and urinary incontinence in the previous year: 23.02% of the Caucasian women reported incontinence, compared with 16.17% of the African American women. Other factors that appear to increase the likelihood of incontinence include education, age, functional impairment, sensory impairment, stroke, body mass, and reporting by a proxy. Race was not related to the severity (as measured by frequency) of urine loss among incontinent older women.

CONCLUSION: This study identifies or confirms important risk factors for self-reported urinary incontinence in a national context, and suggests factors leading to protection from incontinence. Race is found to relate to incontinence, with older African American women reporting a lower prevalence.

DOI10.1093/gerona/54.6.m299
User Guide Notes

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10411017?dopt=Abstract

Endnote Keywords

Aged, 80 and Over/Blacks/Statistics and Numerical Data/Female/Human/Prevalence/Risk Factors/Support, U.S. Government--PHS/United States/Epidemiology/Urinary Incontinence/Ethnology/Whites

Endnote ID

4495

Alternate JournalJ Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci
Citation Key6649
PubMed ID10411017
Grant ListU01 AG009740 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 DK47543 / DK / NIDDK NIH HHS / United States
R37 AG08511 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
U01 AG09740 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States