Lower urinary tract symptoms and falls in older women: a case control study

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the distribution of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in women >65y old presenting to the emergency department following a fall or fall related injury.

Study design: A prospective, case controlled postal questionnaire study.

Setting: University Teaching Hospital, London, UK.

Main outcome measures: The distribution of LUTS were assessed using the International Consultation on Incontinence Modular Questionnaire for female lower urinary tract symptoms. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics to determine whether there was a difference in the distribution of LUTS between women presenting with a fall or non-fall related health problem. The proportion of women who attributed their fall to lower urinary tract symptoms was also assessed.

Results: No difference in the distribution of LUTS was found between older women presenting with a fall and those without. Only 6.5% of women presenting with falls attributed their fall to antecedent LUTS.

Conclusion: No relationship between falls and urgency or urgency incontinence was found in a cohort of older women presenting to the emergency department having fallen. A temporal association between falls and LUTS was observed in only a minority of falls.

Keywords: Falls; Lower urinary tract symptoms; Older people; Urinary incontinence.