INTRODUCTION

While the physiological disorder of urinary incontinence (UI) is not inherent to the aging process, it tends to manifest itself more frequently with advancing age and is considered one of the main geriatric syndromes^1-3. In this sense, the progressive increase in the absolute and relative number of elderly people due to increased life expectancy and population aging has led to an increase in the occurrence of UI^1,4.

The International Continence Society defines UI as any involuntary leakage of urine⁵ and the condition is multifactorial in origin. Specialized literature shows that the factors associated with its occurrence are: the female gender and advanced age^6-8, non-Caucasian ethnicity⁹ and the lack of or low levels of schooling^8-10. Studies have shown UI as associated with diseases such as: infection of the urinary tract¹¹, arterial hypertension¹², diabetes mellitus^6,12-14, a history of cardiac disease⁴, obesity^4,6,10, strokes^6,8,13,15, respiratory problems^8,15, depression⁶, cognitive deficit¹⁶, arthritis¹², arthrosis/rheumatism¹⁷, prostatic hyperplasia¹⁸, a history of falls^4,17, functional limitations, limited mobility or dependence^{6,8,11,14,16,18}, comorbidity¹⁹ and frailty¹⁷. in addition to these conditions, UI may be associated with lifestyle habits such as sedentiarism²⁰. There is also an association with polypharmacy⁸, gynecological surgery, hysterectomies and the menopause in women²⁰, a negative self-assessment of health status^9,15,17 and poor quality of life ¹⁹.

The importance of this theme is not only because of the high prevalence of UI among the elderly population in the country^6,8,10,21, but due to its repercussions on physical, psychological and social aspects. UI tends to cause changes in the routine of the elderly, social isolation due to embarrassment and the loss of self-esteem, and impairments in quality of life^2,22. In addition, embarrassment may prevent these individuals seeking professional help and diagnosis of the problem, making coexistence with this dysfunction permanent². Although its symptoms are still underestimated or omitted due to the feeling of shame or because it is seen as part of the natural process of aging^1,8,23, UI is considered a major complaint in health care.

There are few population-based epidemiological surveys for the study of UI in the Brazilian elderly population^6,8,14,22, especially in relation to the magnitude of its relationship with other health indicators. Few studies have demonstrated the impact of UI on the physical and mental health conditions of the elderly population, reinforcing the importance of its use as a health marker for the investigation of other conditions, such as functional disability^24,25, depression^26-28, the self-perception of poor/very poor health^29,30 and cognitive deficit.

The aim of this study was to verify the prevalence of UI and its relationship with physical and mental health indicators in the elderly population living in the urban area of Bagé, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, in order to identify the magnitude of the problem and support the organization of care and health policies, mainly in the area of primary care.

METHOD

This cross-sectional population-based study was carried out between July and November 2008 with the elderly population living in the urban area of Bagé, located on the border of the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) and Uruguay. In the year of the study, approximately 122,461 inhabitants lived in this municipal region, of which 14,792 (12.0%) were elderly. Of the total population, 82% lived in the urban area. The coverage of the family health strategy in the region was 54%.

The sample size was calculated for a matric study that had as an outcome the "need for home care" and "receives home care"³¹. In this scenario, a sample of 1,530 individuals with a 95% confidence level was stipulated, and a statistical power of 80% was established to detect a relative risk of at least 1.5 for exposures affecting up to 4% of the population. For the calculation of the final sample, 10% for losses and refusals, 15% for confounding factors and a delineation effect of 1.3 were applied.

The criteria for inclusion were: individuals aged 60 years or older, living in private households, in the urban area of the municipal region of Bagé (RS), located in the areas covered by basic health care services. The sampling process was carried out in two stages based on the area covered by all 20 Basic Health Units (BHU), with 15 Family Health Units and five traditional BHUs. The area of the BHUs was divided into micro areas, with the numerical identification of each block, randomly selecting the initial point of data collection and each of the blocks by the drawing of lots. In order to ensure that all households had the same probability of inclusion in the sample, systematic skipping was used and one in every six residences was visited to locate the elderly. All residents aged 60 years or older residing in selected households were invited to participate in the study. Households where it was not possible to perform Interviews after three attempts on different days and times were considered losses, and those where the elderly did not agree to answer the questionnaire were considered refusals³².

Data collection was performed by duly trained interviewers using a questionnaire structured with pre-coded questions, answered by the elderly individuals themselves. In the case of disability, the questionnaire was applied to the caregiver.

The occurrence of "urinary incontinence" was investigated through the following questions: Do you have trouble with leaking some urine and accidentally wetting yourself?; In the last 30 days, how often did this happen?; In what situations do you leak urine? Because of the problem of leaking urine, do you use liners, absorbent pads, or diapers?. Using UI as a health marker, the following physical and mental health indicators were evaluated: Functional Disability for Activities of Daily Living (ADL) assessed by the Katz et al scale, screening for cognitive deficit assessed by the Mini Mental State Examination, depression evaluated by the Geriatric Depression Scale and Self-perception of Health¹.

The independent variables used were the demographic and socioeconomic variables: gender (female and male), age in complete years (60 to 64 years, 65 to 69 years, 70 to 74 years, 75 years or more), self-described skin color (white, black, yellow/ /brown/indigenous), economic classification according to the Brazilian Association of Research Companies (A/B, C, D/E) and schooling in full years (none, 1 to 7, 8 or more).

Data analysis was performed using the statistical program Stata version 12.0 (Stata Corporation, College Station, USA). Qualitative variables were expressed as absolute and relative frequencies and the quantitative variables as means and standard deviation (SD), with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Crude and adjusted analysis was performed using Poisson regression with robust variance adjustment to estimate the prevalence ratios (PRs) and their respective 95% CIs. An adjustment was made for demographic and socioeconomic variables. Associations with p value <0.05 were considered statistically significant.

The study was submitted to and approved by the Ethics Research Committee of the Universidade Federal de Pelotas under registration nº 15/08, following the precepts of Resolution nº 196/1996. The participants were informed about the research objectives and asked to read and sign a Free and Informed Consent Form.

RESULTS

A total of 1,593 elderly persons were interviewed, most of whom were female (62.8%). The mean age was 71.2 years (95% CI 63.0-79.4), ranging from 60 to 106 years, and the majority self-described their skin color as white (81.7%). There was a higher proportion of elderly married persons or those with companions (51.3%), and those who belonged to economic class C (38.9%). Regarding schooling, 23.9% reported not attending school and 54.5% had one to seven years of schooling. The majority of the elderly reported being retired (71.7%) (Table 1).

The prevalence of UI was 20.7%. Of these, in the 30 days prior to the interview, 36.9% reported daily urine leakage, 39.4% weekly leakage and 23.5% monthly leakage. Among incontinent individuals, 33.4% reported using a diaper or liner, of which 20.9% used only when they left the house, 17.2% used only when sleeping and 61.8% used all the time.

The prevalence of UI was 26.9% among women and 10.3% among men (p=<0.001). It was 28.4% in elderly persons aged 75 years or more (p=<0.001); 27.9% among elderly people with yellow, brown or indigenous skin color (p=0.031); 20.3% among economic class D and E (p=0.622); and 26.3% among those without schooling (p=0.002), considering the total population (Table 2).

When verifying the prevalence of UI, stratified by gender, according to demographic and socioeconomic variables, it was possible to identify a significant increase in prevalence among women aged 75 years or older and those with yellow, brown or indigenous skin color. Among elderly men, the prevalence of UI was significantly higher in the age group of 70 to 74 and 75 years or older and among those with no schooling.

When assessing the relationship between UI and physical and mental health conditions, it was noted that, among the incontinent elderly population, there is a higher prevalence of functional disability, depression, cognitive deficit and a poor/very poor self-perception of health in both genders (Figure 1).

In crude analysis, functional impairment for ADL and cognitive deficit were found to be associated with the presence of UI in the male and female population. Depression and poor/very poor self-perception of health were associated only with women (Table 3).

In the analysis adjusted for demographic and socioeconomic variables, the physical and mental health indicators remained associated with UI in both sexes. Women with UI had, respectively, 2.8, 2.2, 1.2 and 1.9 times the odds of having functional disability for ADL, depression, cognitive deficit and poor/very poor self-perception. Among males, functional disability and cognitive deficit were 4.5 and 1.6 times greater, respectively, among those who had incontinence compared with those who did not.

DISCUSSION

The prevalence of UI reveals that the problem affects one in five elderly people in the municipality of Bagé (Rio Grande do Sul), with greater occurrence among women, those with advanced age, yellow, brown or indigenous skin color and those without schooling. Evaluating the health of the elderly population using the UI health marker, incontinent women showed a significantly higher prevalence of functional disability for ADL, depression, cognitive deficit and poor/very poor self-perception of health. Elderly men with UI had a higher prevalence of functional disability and cognitive deficit.

The findings on the general prevalence of UI corroborate the results of population-based studies conducted with elderly people in São Paulo (São Paulo)⁶ and in Florianópolis (Santa Catarina)⁸. However, research on the prevalence of UI has shown great variability^{7,11,12,17,19,21,33}. This may occur due to sample choice, the age and gender of the population investigated³³, the fact that prevalence is often higher among elderly persons in long-term institutions¹⁹; and the type of instrument used for UI assessment, whether self-reported or clinical diagnosis. This variability can also be explained by the adoption of different definitions for UI or even different methodologies⁶. It can also be attributed to cultural differences between regions in how UI is perceived by older adults¹⁸.

As for the frequency of urine loss, the prevalence of elderly people who reported suffering from this problem on a daily basis was higher than that observed in a study carried out with elderly women from a care center for the elderly in Pelotas (Rio Grande do Sul)²¹ and women aged 18 to 89 years who sought cervical cancer screening in Florianópolis (Santa Catarina)⁹. The frequency and amount of urine leakage are due to several factors, such as: type of UI, elderly health status, comorbidities and degree of functional dependence¹¹.

Regarding the factors associated with UI, women presented a higher prevalence (26.9%) than men (10.3%). The self-reported prevalence of UI by the elderly was 36.3% in women and 17.0% in men in a study carried out in Florianópolis (Santa Catarina)⁸, 26.2% in women and 11.8% in men in São Paulo (São Paulo)⁶, 69.5% in women and 30.5% in men in Uberaba (Minas Gerais)¹⁰, and 31.1% in women and 23.2% in men in Montes Claros (Minas Gerais)¹⁷. In a study in Korea with people 60 years of age or older, UI was reported in 6.5% of women¹⁵ and 3.9% of men¹⁸. And in the USA, in a study with women and men aged 50 years or older, the prevalence of UI was 19.8 and 6.4%, respectively⁷.

In all surveys, the female gender appears to be the most affected and associated with UI, which may be related to the differences between the length of the urethra; the anatomy of the pelvic floor; the effects of gestation and giving birth on UI mechanisms; and hormonal changes⁶.

The tendency for the prevalence of UI to grow as the age of the elderly person increases has been identified by both Brazilian^6,8,11 and non-Brazilian studies^7,12. Aging with increasing prevalence of comorbidities causes physiological changes. Thus, it is not surprising that advanced age is associated with the loss of bladder control, since urine control depends on a complex set of neurophysiological pathways, normal neuromuscular and connective tissue function, and adequate cognition and mobility⁷.

In Bagé (Rio Grande do Sul), yellow, brown or indigenous skin color increased the occurrence of UI by 40% in relation to white elderly persons, corroborating the results of a study carried out in Florianópolis (SC)⁹. According to literature, white women have better knowledge about UI than black women and more frequently undergo surgical treatment³⁴. Another hypothesis is that white elderly persons may have better socioeconomic conditions, which favors seeking out preventive measures.

In contrast, a survey conducted in the USA showed that being non-Hispanic white increased the chance of UI in relation to other ethnic groups⁷. Thus, it is difficult to know whether the racial disparities observed are due to actual differences or if there are differences in the level of knowledge about the problem or in reporting urinary dysfunction among the various ethnic-racial groups, according to accepted cultural norms³⁴.

In the present survey, the absence of schooling was related to a higher probability of UI. Similar results are found in literature^8,10. Absence or low levels of schooling can make early detection and the seeking of treatment and preventive strategies difficult, as there may be a belief that UI is a natural consequence of the aging process¹. In addition, healthcare professionals should use clear language that facilitates understanding in the socialization of information on the subject¹⁰.

After adjustment for demographic and socioeconomic variables, it was possible to identify a higher prevalence of functional disability, depression, cognitive deficit and poor/very poor self-perception of health among elderly individuals with UI. These results show the necessity and importance of the evaluation of physical and mental health indicators in the elderly that relate to UI.

The relationship between UI and functional capacity has been verified in non-Brazilian studies^24,25. Longitudinal research conducted in Norway has confirmed UI as a significant risk factor for decline in functional capacity among older women²⁴. In a cohort study performed in the USA²⁵, older women with daily UI had a greater chance (OR=3.31) of functional difficulty or dependence than those who were continent, after adjusting for sociodemographic variables.

This study does not involve longitudinal follow-up and these results are likely to be the fruits of reverse causality, as while it is difficult to say that UI causes functional disability, the opposite can be stated^{6,8,11,14,16,18}. One study²⁵ justifies this result by stating that incontinent women reduce physical activity due to fear of accidental urine loss and, consequently, there is an increase in functional limitations.

In relation to depression, there are several publications that show UI as a risk factor for the disease. A survey²⁷ conducted with Norwegians showed that, after adjustments, women with UI had around a 1.60 greater chance of developing depressive disorder and anxiety compared to women without UI. Cross-sectional studies^26,28 with women over 50 years of age in the USA showed an increase in the prevalence of depression as the frequency and severity of UI increased.

Incontinent women often avoid social activities and thus have smaller social networks, which, in turn, have an impact on mental health and contribute to the development of depression²⁶. However, we cannot disregard depression as a risk factor for UI, which was verified in a national cohort study⁶.

The prevalence of cognitive deficit was significantly higher among those with incontinence than those who do not, in both genders, with a higher prevalence in incontinent men. While there is no evidence to show UI as a risk factor for cognitive deficit, this result makes clear the importance of assessing the condition in elderly individuals who report or have a diagnosis of UI. It is known that mental deficiency is an important risk factor for the development of incontinence¹⁶, despite the scarcity of studies.

The prevalence of a poor/very poor self-perception of health increased among incontinent women, with no significant association among men. This association is expected considering the impact of UI on the psychosocial life of the elderly. In a population study²⁹ of elderly persons in Cuiabá (Mato Grosso) it was found that the self-assessment of poor and very poor health was 1.33 times higher among incontinent elderly than those who did not have UI. A study³⁰ performed with elderly individuals 65 years of age or older in Belém (PA) (n=571) and in Campinas (SP) (n=676), showed that in both cities negative self-assessment of health was associated with the presence of three or more signs and symptoms, including UI.

The association of depression and self-rated poor/very poor health with UI among women may be related to the fact that this population group tends to expose their feelings and health problems more than men. In addition, women account for more than 60% of the population of this study, and there is therefore greater power to find associations. It is also worth noting that most of the studies conducted with the elderly focus on the female population, and there is a need to broaden this theme among elderly men.

Among the limitations of the present study, we highlight the fact that the association between the types of UI and the health conditions studied was not investigated. There is also the possibility that the individuals of the study were in drug treatment for UI and at the time of data collection did not mention urine leakage. In a cross-sectional study, it is not possible to assess the temporal relationship of UI with functional disability, depression, cognitive deficit and poor/very poor health self-perception. It is suggested that longitudinal surveys are carried out to verify the causal relationship between the variables. It is also worth mentioning that while there is no biological plausibility that UI causes functional disability and cognitive deficit, the relationship of these conditions with incontinence is evident, highlighting the need to evaluate physical and mental health conditions in the practice of care of the elderly with a diagnosis of UI. These are common conditions in primary care and negatively affect the quality of life of the elderly. These findings may support public policies for the elderly population, strategies to prevent UI and its effects on the health of this population and the organization of treatment in primary health care.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study reveal that urinary incontinence is a frequent condition among the elderly, affecting one in five individuals. In addition, its prevalence is higher among the elderly, women, older elderly people, those with yellow or brown skin or indigenous, and those without schooling. Incontinence was related to physical and mental health indicators, with a higher occurrence of functional disability, depression, cognitive deficit and a poor/very poor self-perception of health in incontinent elderly persons.

Urinary incontinence should not be understood as a normal alteration of the physiology of aging, and thus health education actions and guidelines for individuals at all ages are required. In this sense, the training of health professionals regarding the approach to incontinence, methods of evaluation and early diagnosis, and knowledge about the risk factors is urgently needed. It is suggested that longitudinal studies are carried out to verify the relationship between incontinence and physical and mental health indicators, as well as the impact on the quality of life of the elderly.

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Author notes

Correspondence Marciane Kessler marciane.kessler@hotmail.com