Urinary incontinence is associated with an increase in falls: a systematic review.

QUESTION: Is urinary incontinence associated with falls in community-dwelling older people?

DESIGN

A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies investigating falls and urinary incontinence.

PARTICIPANTS

Community-dwelling older people.

OUTCOME MEASURES: Falls rather than fracture or injury, and any type of urinary incontinence.

RESULTS

Odds ratios of nine studies were included in the meta-analysis. The odds of falling were 1.45 (95% CI 1.36 to 1.54) in the presence of any type of urinary incontinence. The odds of falling were 1.54 (95% CI 1.41 to 1.69) in the presence of urge incontinence. The odds of falling were 1.11 (95% CI 1.00 to 1.23) in the presence of stress incontinence. The odds of falling were 1.92 (95% CI 1.69 to 2.18) in the presence of mixed incontinence.

CONCLUSION

Urge urinary incontinence, but not stress urinary incontinence, is associated with a modest increase in falls. Falls prevention programs need to include an assessment of incontinence and referral for interventions to ameliorate the symptoms of urge incontinence.