Informal caregiving time and costs for urinary incontinence in older individuals in the United States.

TitleInformal caregiving time and costs for urinary incontinence in older individuals in the United States.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2002
AuthorsLanga, KM, Fultz, NH, Saint, S, Kabeto, MU, Herzog, AR
JournalJ Am Geriatr Soc
Volume50
Issue4
Pagination733-7
Date Published2002 Apr
ISSN Number0002-8614
KeywordsAged, Caregivers, Comorbidity, Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic, Female, Humans, Incontinence Pads, Male, Regression Analysis, Time Factors, United States, Urinary incontinence
Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To obtain nationally representative estimates of the additional time, and related cost, of informal caregiving associated with urinary incontinence in older individuals.

DESIGN: Multivariate regression models using data from the 1993 Asset and Health Dynamics Study, a nationally representative survey of people aged 70 and older (N = 7,443).

SETTING: Community-dwelling older people.

PARTICIPANTS: National population-based sample of community-dwelling older people.

MEASUREMENTS: Weekly hours of informal caregiving, and imputed cost of caregiver time, for community-dwelling older people who reported (1) no unintended urine loss, (2) incontinence that did not require the use of absorbent pads, and (3) incontinence that required the use of absorbent pads.

RESULTS: Thirteen percent of men and 24% of women reported incontinence. After adjusting for sociodemographics, living situation, and comorbidities, continent men received 7.4 hours per week of care, incontinent men who did not use pads received 11.3 hours, and incontinent men who used pads received 16.6 hours (P <.001). Women in these groups received 5.9, 7.6, and 10.7 hours (P <.001), respectively. The additional yearly cost of informal care associated with incontinence was $1,700 and $4,000 for incontinent men who did not and did use pads, respectively, whereas, for women in these groups, the additional yearly cost was $700 and $2,000. Overall, this represents a national annual cost of more than $6 billion for incontinence-related informal care.

CONCLUSIONS: The quantity of informal caregiving for older people with incontinence and its associated economic cost are substantial. Future analyses of the costs of incontinence, and the cost-effectiveness of interventions to prevent or treat incontinence, should consider the significant informal caregiving costs associated with this condition.

DOI10.1046/j.1532-5415.2002.50170.x
User Guide Notes

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11982676?dopt=Abstract

Endnote Keywords

Caregivers/Comorbidity/Confounding Factors (Epidemiology)/Female/Incontinence Pads/Regression Analysis/Support, U.S. Government--PHS/Time Factors/United States/Epidemiology/Urinary Incontinence

Endnote ID

4085

Alternate JournalJ Am Geriatr Soc
Citation Key6791
PubMed ID11982676
Grant ListU01 AG009740 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
U01 AG09740 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States