About 15% of the women and 10% of the men past the age of 65 years suffer from urinary incontinence.
In most cases, accurate history taking can help differentiate between urge incontinence, stress incontinence and overflow incontinence, and is essential in choosing the appropriate treatment. Initial diagnostic testing can be conducted by the general practitioner, especially tests to exclude urinary tract infections or to rule out an overactive bladder. Patient education on changes to fluid intake and voiding habits as well as advice on suitable incontinence products are important first steps in the management of urinary continence. Also, drug treatment can be initiated in general practice. Patients with refractory urinary incontinence, particularly those who did not respond to anticholinergic medication, should be referred to a urologist for further evaluation since there may be an underlying tumour or other disorder of the bladder that is causing the incontinence.
Written by:
Keller IS, Brachlow JF, Padevit C, Kurz M, John H. Are you the author?
Departement Chirurgie, Klinik für Urologie, Kantonsspital Winterthur.
Reference: Praxis (Bern 1994). 2014 Oct 1;103(20):1181-9.
doi: 10.1024/1661-8157/a001789
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 25270747
Article in German.