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Considerations in Older People

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Bladder Dysfunction in the Adult

Part of the book series: Current Clinical Urology ((CCU))

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Abstract

Incontinence in older people should be considered within the conceptual framework of frailty. Frailty results from the convergence of multiple physiological and pathological factors to produce a state whereby an individual is at increased risk of poor outcomes. Important determinants of continence in older people include cognition, comorbid disease, concomitant medications and mobility. Evaluation of these factors along with the type of incontinence is vital to informing an effective treatment strategy. Successful management of incontinence in older people should aim to improve quality of life and discussion with the patient should determine the goal of therapy. Satisfactory outcomes will range from complete symptom cure through to urinary containment. Whilst the assessment and effective management of incontinence in the older adult can be very challenging, successful intervention is particularly rewarding, often achieving significant improvement in the patient's quality of life.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, 39 Whatley Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 2PS, UK

    Emily J. Henderson M.B., Ch.B., M.R.C.P.

Authors
  1. Emily J. Henderson M.B., Ch.B., M.R.C.P.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Emily J. Henderson M.B., Ch.B., M.R.C.P. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

    Alan J. Wein

  2. Aarhus University, AIAS, Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies, Aarhus, Denmark

    Karl-Erik Andersson

  3. Urological Institute, University of Bristol and Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom

    Marcus J. Drake

  4. Department of Urologic Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA

    Roger R. Dmochowski

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© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Henderson, E.J. (2014). Considerations in Older People. In: Wein, A., Andersson, KE., Drake, M., Dmochowski, R. (eds) Bladder Dysfunction in the Adult. Current Clinical Urology. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0853-0_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0853-0_20

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-0852-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-0853-0

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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