Association between urinary incontinence and physical frailty in Korea

OBJECTIVE:The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations between urinary incontinence (UI) and physical frailty (PF). METHODS:The study participants (n = 404) who visited the geriatric clinic were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of UI based on questionnaire results. We analysed the relationship between each factor associated with PF and the risk of UI according to the number of factors associated with PF. RESULTS:Urinary incontinence was associated with grip strength and history of falls (P = 0.01, 0.02, respectively). The risk of UI increased as the patients' number of PF-related factors increased (P for trend = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS:The risk of UI increased as the severity of PF increased. Strength and the experiences of falls were associated with UI.