PREVALENCE AND CONDITIONS OF URINARY-INCONTINENCE AMONG THE ELDERLY

In Japan, elderly disorders and diseases have markedly increased in re cent years, because of rapid aging and an increasing number of older p ersons. The situation is creating serious social and community problem s. These disorders, particularly dysuria and urinary incontinence (UI) , disturb the quality of life (QOL) in latelife. Few reports on UI hav e been published, but precise investigation into the community level r emains to be made. Our presentation is the development, implementation and evaluation of elderly UI in Kumamoto Prefecture. This study inclu des 2,304 people (male: 856, female: 1,448), over 65 years of age, liv ing in two different communities; one is an urban (K) and the other is a typical rural area (S). The rate of UI was in homebound elderly per sons, male: 4.7%, female: 11.3%, and in nursing home residents, male: 16.2%, female: 23.2%. The condition of UI was: almost Urinary Urgency in male (61.5%), and Stress Incontinence (such as, caused by coughing, sneezing, and exercise) in female (46.3%). The influence of UI on the activity of daily life was investigated. Most of the male cases were giving concerns for family and community. In contrast, females hesited to participate in group excursions and outdoor exercise, and had a te ndency to live alone or indoors. However, most persons (81.5%) with UI did not visit a physician. From this investigation, we conclude that a community health care prog ram and public support system are essenti al for proper understanding and solution of the elderly UI problem.