Urinary incontinence among the elderly people of Singapore

Abstract

In a sample of 919 respondents aged 65 years and older, resident in a public housing estate in Singapore, the prevalence of regular urinary incontinence was 4.6%. Thirty-five of the 42 incontinent subjects consented to a detailed interview. The majority of these 35 cases leaked urine daily, leaked amounts over one tablespoon, or were suffering some physiological or social effect of the incontinence. Urge incontinence was the commonest type in women and outlet obstruction in men. Almost all incontinent subjects were agreeable to having medical attention for the condition although over a third had not previously consulted medical personnel about the problem. There may be scope for the provision of primary health care continence services.