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Meta-Analysis
. 2009;55(2):89-95.
doi: 10.1016/s0004-9514(09)70038-8.

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

Pauline E Chiarelli  1 , Lynette A Mackenzie, Peter G Osmotherly
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

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

Pauline E Chiarelli et al. Aust J Physiother. 2009.

Abstract

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.

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