Frequency and Sociodemographic Characteristics of Urinary Incontinence in Patients Over 65 Years of Age in Rural of Turkey

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of urinary incontinence in patients over 65 years of age and to investigate its relationship with sociodemographic characteristics. Methods: This study is a cross-sectional descriptive study performed using a face to face survey and conducted between the dates of May 1st, 2019 and August 1st, 2019 in patients aged 65 and above and who applied to Gemerek State Hospital Family Medicine Outpatient Clinics. Following a literature search, the questionnaire developed by the investigators was applied. Results: The prevalence of UI was 28.5%. Among those, 43.8% alone had not presented to any physician with this complaint. Among the patients with UI who refrained to tell this complaint to their physicians, 76% considered this condition as a natural consequence of ageing, 17.4% were shy to get examined and 6.6% told that they had no discomfort to have a UI. Among the patients, 72.9% (n=269) were never asked by a physician or a nurse whether they had experienced UI. Conclusions: The symptoms of urinary incontinence are generally considered as a reflection of ageing or patients are shy to express this complaint. In addition, the rate of questioning about urinary incontinence by the physicians or nurses seems to be very low. Keywords: geriatrics, urinary incontinence, aging