Urinary incontinence in older women at a tertiary care hospital in Sri Lanka: Prevalence, severity, risk factors, and practices

Background: Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common lower urinary tract symptom that significantly affects the quality of life of older women.  However, evidence specifically focused on older women remains limited, particularly in the local context. This study investi-gated the prevalence, severity, risk factors, and associated practices of UI among older women.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among older women aged 60 years or older admitted to the medical wards of Colombo South Teaching Hospital, using an interviewer-adminis-tered questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS, and significance was set at p<0.05.
Results: A total of 361 women with a mean age of 68.86±6.206 were included in the study. UI was reported in 36.6% of participants during the 3 months before admission. The most common UI subtypes were mixed UI (MUI) (18%), urge UI (UUI)(12.7%), and stress UI (SUI) (4.9%). A significant proportion (16.4%) experienced UI in nearly every voiding episode, and almost a third reported that their urinary problems greatly affected their lives. Additionally, 17% used pads to manage their UI. Various factors, including the number of vaginal deliveries, age at menopause, and history of gynaecological surgeries, were significantly linked to UI. While some practised good habits, a fifth chose self-treatment with herbs and prayers.
Conclusion: Among older women admitted to the medical wards of Colombo South Teaching Hospital, UI was frequently reported in the preceding months, with a significant impact on quality of life; however, care-seeking behaviour and the adoption of positive practices remained suboptimal.