QUALITY-OF-LIFE IN GERIATRIC-PATIENTS WITH LOWER URINARY-TRACT DYSFUNCTION

Lower urinary tract dysfunctions, such as urinary incontinence, detrus or instability, and benign prostatic hyperplasia, are prevalent in old er adults. These conditions, which can occur alone or in combination, result in irritative or obstructive symptoms that can interfere with e veryday functioning, leading to negative consequences on health-relate d quality of life. The nature and severity of these symptoms and the p erception of their impact on daily activities can be quite variable. U ntil recently, relatively little was known about the effect of lower u rinary tract dysfunctions on general health status and quality of life . An increasing research base is now available that shows the impact o f different urologic dysfunctions in clinical and general populations. This article will provide a brief background on the definition and me asurement of health-related quality of life and will summarize the lit erature about the quality of life of community-dwelling elderly patien ts with urinary incontinence or prostate conditions. Implications to g uide clinical practice and future research will be derived.