Risk factors for the development of fecal and urinary incontinence in Wisconsin nursing home residents

Abstract

Purpose: To determine factors associated with the development of urinary and fecal incontinence in nursing homes.

Design and methods: Residents of Wisconsin skilled nursing facilities reported in the Wisconsin annual nursing home survey continent to both urine and stool in 1992 were re-assessed 1 year later for the development of urinary and/or fecal incontinence. Independent variables were elements of the HCFA minimum data set found to be significantly associated with incontinence in cross-sectional surveys of Wisconsin nursing home residents.

Results: Dementia and advancing age were consistently associated with the development of incontinence, but the strongest associations were impairment of activities of daily living and the use of patient restraints.

Implication: Adjusting for the major reasons to apply patient restraint: dementia, blindness, arthritis and stroke, along with other risk factors for incontinence, the use of patient restraints is the most significant cause for the development of incontinence in nursing homes.