SUSTAINED IMPROVEMENT OF SUBJECTIVE QUALITY-OF-LIFE IN OLDER COMMUNITY-DWELLING PEOPLE AFTER TREATMENT OF URINARY-INCONTINENCE

We aimed to study the impact of conservative non-pharmacological, non- surgical management on quality of life in elderly incontinent patients . Community-dwelling patients age 60 years or older were randomized to receive immediate or delayed conservative management. A number of que stions relating to quality of life were administered at admission and then at 2, 4, 8 and 12 months. By 4 months, incontinence was cured in 25% and improved in 63% of patients. The frequency and severity of inc ontinence was reduced (p < 0.001), and deferment time was improved (p < 0.01). There were statistically significant improvements in subjecti ve quality of life measures at 4 and 12 months involving depression (p < 0.001), isolation (p < 0.03), embarrassment (p < 0.001), laundry (p < 0.001) and smell (p < 0.02) when comparing these Variables with ini tial assessment. This effect did not appear to be a placebo effect as evidenced by comparison with the delayed intervention group, and was s ustained over 12 months. There are significant short- and long-term be nefits to the quality of life of older patients with incontinence when treated by conservative measures. Intervention studies should measure and report quality of life as an outcome variable.