AN EPIDEMIOLOGIC-STUDY OF URINARY-INCONTINENCE AND RELATED UROGENITAL SYMPTOMS IN ELDERLY WOMEN

The prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) and related urogenital symptoms (UGS) was investigated in a random sample (n = 4206) of women from the 1900-20 birth cohorts residing in the city of Göteborg. It was reported by 16.9% of the respondents that they currently had UI and by 22.7% that they had regularly suffered from this complaint at some time in their lives. The prevalence of UI increased (P < 0.001) with rising age, from 13.9% in the 1920 birth cohort to 24.6% in the 1900 birth cohort. Over 50% of the sufferers reported daily incontinence. An objective assessment was performed in a subsample (n = 300) of the women complaining of UI. In 14 cases (4.6%) the diagnosis could not be confirmed, while in the remainder UI was classified by type as follows: stress incontinence 24%, urge incontinence 49% and mixed incontinence 27%. The number of urinary tract infections (UTI) reported by the respondents increased (P < 0.001) with rising age. UGS such as pruritus, burning, pain and vaginal discharge were reported by 11% of the respondents. The reported frequency of local vaginal discomfort did not increase with age, unlike that of UI and UTI. Systemic or local oestrogen treatment was being received by 9.2% of the respondents. © 1990.