Diuretic use and risk of falls in older women with urinary incontinence.

To determine the association between diuretic use and falls in community-dwelling older women with urinary incontinence (UI).

We conducted an analytic cross-sectional study using patients' electronic medical records. Patients were women with UI, 65 years or older seen at a urogynecology clinic between January 1, 2018 and September 30, 2019. We used logistic regression analysis to explore the associations between falls and diuretic use.

The study included 108 women, mean age of 75.2 ±7.5 years. Twenty-two (20%) reported one or more falls within the past year and 32 (30%) were diuretic users. Fall prevalence in diuretic users and non-users were 25% (8/32) and 18.4% (14/76), respectively. Diuretic use was not associated with falls (OR = 0.74, 95%CI = 0.22-2.52). Post-hoc analysis revealed inadequate sample size.

Diuretics use may not be a risk factor for falls in ambulatory older women with UI. A larger sample will be needed to confirm.

Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.). 2023 Jun 08 [Epub ahead of print]

Jude des Bordes, Rachel Obimah, Tasia Isbell, Cristina Murdock, Nahid Rianon, Gazala Siddiqui

The University of Texas McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USA., The University of Texas McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USA. Electronic address: .