Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics in nonagenarians and centenarians with and without urinary incontinence

EnglishAims: to analyze the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of nonagenarian and centenary individuals with and without urinary incontinence. Methods: this is a cross-sectional and analytical study, involving 234 nonagenarians and centenarians evaluated in their homes, which were randomly selected in the city of Porto Alegre, RS. The presence of incontinence was assessed with respect to clinical and sociodemographic characteristics whose associations were tested by chi-square and the differences in means tested by Student’s t using the Epi Info program. Results: the prevalence of urinary incontinence was 56.41%, being 63.53% among women and 37.5% among men (p = 0.0003). The relationship between the presence of urine loss and marital status was significant (p = 0.0049), with greater frequency among widowers. Incontinents left the house less, participated less in physical and social activities, had a greater number of chronic diseases and depressive symptoms and a worse score in the cognitive assessment. Regarding urinary symptoms, most incontinents reported that urine or bladder interferes with their life (p Conclusions: urinary incontinence was more frequent among women, older participants, widowers and individuals who lived alone. Despite a higher prevalence among women, an important prevalence among men is noteworthy. We conclude that urinary incontinence directly impacts the social life and health of nonagenarians and centenarians. Therefore, urinary incontinence should be an important component in the evaluation of nonagenarians and centenarians. We also observed that a significant number of nonagenarians and centenarians present discomfort related to urine, even without urinary incontinence. portuguesObjetivos: analisar as caracteristicas sociodemograficas e clinicas em individuos nonagenarios e centenarios com e sem incontinencia urinaria. Metodos: trata-se de um estudo transversal e analitico, envolvendo 234 nonagenarios e centenarios avaliados nos seus domicilios, que foram aleatoriamente selecionados na cidade de Porto Alegre, RS. A presenca de incontinencia foi avaliada com relacao as caracteristicas clinicas e sociodemograficas cujas associacoes foram testadas pelo qui-quadrado e as diferencas nas medias testadas pelo t de Student usando o Programa Epi Info. Resultados: a prevalencia de incontinencia urinaria foi de 56,41%, sendo 63,53% entre as mulheres e 37,5% entre os homens (p=0,0003). A relacao entre presenca de perda de urina e de estado conjugal foi significativa (p=0,0049), com maior frequencia entre os viuvos. Os incontinentes saiam menos de casa, participavam menos de atividades fisicas e sociais, tinham maior numero de doencas cronicas e sintomas depressivos e pior pontuacao na avaliacao cognitiva. Em relacao aos sintomas urinarios, a maioria dos incontinentes referiu que a urina ou bexiga atrapalha a sua vida (p Conclusoes: a incontinencia urinaria foi mais frequente entre mulheres, participantes mais velhos, viuvos e individuos que moravam sozinhos. Apesar de maior prevalencia entre as mulheres, chama atencao uma prevalencia importante entre os homens. Ao fim, concluimos que a incontinencia urinaria impacta diretamente na vida social e na saude de nonagenarios e de centenarios. Entao, a incontinencia urinaria deve ser um importante componente na avaliacao desse grupo. Observamos, tambem, que um numero importante de nonagenarios e de centenarios apresentam incomodos relacionados a urina, mesmo sem incontinencia urinaria.