La incontinencia urinaria en las personas mayores de 65 años: visión desde la enfermería geriátrica

We review the state-of-the-art on urinary incontinence in individuals aged more than 65 years old. The sources used were based on a search of the Cuiden, Cinahl, Medline and Cochrane databases from May to June, 2003. Studies published between 1997 and 2003 in the USA, Canada and Europe were analyzed. Of the 176 studies initially retrieved, 33 articles were selected. According to these articles, the prevalence of urinary incontinence in the elderly is high, ranging from 15.5% to 52.0%. The prevalence is higher in women, in individuals of advanced age, and in those with dependency and cognitive impairment. This problem is under-treated, due to underreporting by affected individuals and lack of awareness among health staff. The various non-invasive treatments that benefit these patients are discussed: bladder reeducation, lifestyle changes, and rehabilitation with exercises to reinforce the pelvic floor.