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- Title
Urinary incontinence: An under-recognized risk factor for falls among elderly dementia patients.
- Authors
Lee, Chun-Ying; Chen, Liang-Kung; Lo, Yuk-Keung; Liang, Chih-Kuang; Chou, Ming-Yueh; Lo, Chung-Cheng; Huang, Chia-Tsuan; Lin, Yu-Te
- Abstract
Aims Elderly people with dementia are at increased risk of falls and intervention trials to prevent falls have failed to demonstrate clinical effectiveness in this population. This study evaluates the role of urinary incontinence as a fall risk factor in older patients with dementia, with the aim of developing relevant intervention strategies. Methods Elderly patients with dementia visiting our center were recruited. All subjects underwent a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA), and patients were divided into two groups (fall and non-fall) according to their history of falls in the past year. Components of the CGA, including physical function, mental function, depressive symptoms, incontinence, and nutritional status, were evaluated according to fall history. Results Overall, 159 patients with dementia (mean age 77.3 ± 9.0 years, 59.1% male) participated. Fifty-four patients (34.0%) had experienced falls in the past year. Among all subjects, 50.3% were diagnosed with mild dementia, 37.7% with moderate dementia, and 12.0% with severe dementia according to an established Clinical Dementia Rating scale. Subjects in the fall group displayed poorer physical function, balance, depressive mood, nutritional status, urinary incontinence, and had an increased prevalence of polypharmacy. However, multivariate analysis revealed urinary incontinence as the only independent risk factor for falls (OR = 4.9 ± 2.2, 95% CI: 2.0-12.0, P < 0.001). Conclusions Urinary incontinence is a previously unidentified risk factor for falls among elderly dementia patients. An interventional study with the focus of urinary incontinence could improve the effectiveness of fall prevention among these patients. Neurourol. Urodynam. 30:1286-1290, 2011. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
- Publication
Neurourology & Urodynamics, 2011, Vol 30, Issue 7, p1286
- ISSN
0733-2467
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1002/nau.21044