Abstract
Incontinence is one of the “Big Giants” in geriatric medicine. Its aetiology is multifactorial and includes factors like physiological ageing and contributing comorbidities, mobility disorders, frailty, sarcopenia and polypharmacy.
Incontinence affects quality of life, as it results in social isolation, depression, falls, fractures, skin complications, infections, delirium and institutionalization. Incontinence, whether urinary or faecal, has been shown to be associated with an increased mortality, care problems and a major psychological burden of people affected. Therefore, it is necessary to raise awareness and draw attention to the complexity of this problem—in patients, caregivers and doctors. A comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA), including a careful history and physical examination, is crucial to identify potential treatable conditions and start an effective and individualized treatment plan.
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Suggested Reading
International Continence society (ICS). www.ics.org
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Hoffmann-Weltin, Y. (2018). Incontinence. In: Roller-Wirnsberger, R., Singler, K., Polidori, M. (eds) Learning Geriatric Medicine. Practical Issues in Geriatrics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-61997-2_11
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-61997-2_11
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