Prevalence, management and outcomes of medically complex vulnerable elderly patients with urinary incontinence in the United States

Comparative effectiveness of pelvic floor muscle training, mirabegron, and trospium among older women with urgency urinary incontinence and high fall risk: a feasibility randomized clinical study

BACKGROUND

Untreated, urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) and overactive bladder (OAB) can precipitate a vicious cycle of decreasing physical activity, social isolation, fear of falling, and falls. Structured behavioral interventions and medications are common initial treatment options, but they elicit their effects through very different mechanisms of action that may influence fall-related outcomes differently. This study will determine the feasibility of conducting a comparative effectiveness, three-arm, mixed methods, randomized clinical trial of a behaviorally based pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) intervention versus two recent drug options in older women with UUI or OAB who are also at increased risk of falling.

METHODS

Forty-eight women 60 years and older with UUI or OAB who screen positive for increased fall risk will be recruited through the urogynacology and pelvic health clinics of our university health system. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three 12-week treatment arms: (1) a course of behavioral and pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) provided by physical therapists; (2) the beta-3 agonist, mirabegron; and (3) the antimuscarinic, trospium chloride. Study feasibility will be established through objective metrics of evaluability, adherence to the interventions, and attrition. We will also assess relevant measures of OAB symptom severity, quality of life, physical activity, incident falls, and concern about falling.

DISCUSSION

The proposed research seeks to ultimately determine if linkages between reduction in UI symptoms through treatment also reduce the risk of falling in this patient population.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT05880862. Registered on 30 May 2023.

Cumulative Effects of Comorbid Burden and Overactive Bladder Symptoms on Fall Risk Among Older Women Seeking Treatment for Urogynecologic Conditions

IMPORTANCE

Overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome and urinary incontinence, age, and comorbid burden are strong risk factors for falls in women. Less is known about their cumulative effects on fall risk in a urogynecologic population.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of coexisting OAB, older age, and comorbidities on risk of falling among treatment seeking women with pelvic floor disorders.

STUDY DESIGN

We conducted a retrospective medical records review of 348 consecutive women presenting to a urogynecology clinic over 6 months. Fall risk was determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's, Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries screening tool. Clinical and sociodemographic measures were abstracted from the electronic medical record. Odds of screening positive for high fall risk based on different patient profiles were calculated. We then used a classification and regression tree analysis to determine the relative importance of the different variables on fall risk within the homogeneous subgroups.

RESULTS

Of the 348 women (mean age, 58.7 ± 15.8 years) who completed the fall risk screen, 124 (36%) screened positive for increased fall risk. Overactive bladder symptoms increased the likelihood of a positive fall risk screen across all combinations of age and comorbid burden. The patient profile of ≥3 OAB symptoms, ≥4 comorbid conditions, and age 65 years or older increased the odds of screening positive for high fall risk more than 6-fold (odds ratio, 6.4; 95% confidence interval, 3.1-12.9). In the following order of importance, the combination of high comorbid burden, OAB, and older age identified approximately 3 in 4 patients (73.3%) at high risk of falling.

CONCLUSION

The presence of 3 easily identifiable patient characteristics is strongly associated with a risk of falls in women seeking care for pelvic floor disorders.

Perceptions and help-seeking behaviours among community-dwelling older people with urinary incontinence: A systematic integrative review

AIM

To synthesize research evidence on perceptions and help-seeking behaviours in community-dwelling older people with urinary incontinence based on the Capability-Opportunity-Motivation-Behaviours model.

BACKGROUND

Urinary incontinence is highly prevalent in community-dwelling older people, yet only a small proportion seek help from health professionals. Untreated urinary incontinence has a detrimental impact on older people's quality of life and distresses their caregivers.

DESIGN

Systematic integrative review.

DATA SOURCES

Ten databases were searched systematically between 9 November 2020 and 17 December 2020 including Medline (PubMed), CINAHL, Ageline, Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest, Psyclnfo, CNKI, Wanfang and Vip.

REVIEW METHODS

Quality appraisal was applied to assess the quality of selected articles. Data relevant to the review aim were extracted from included articles for analysis. Convergent qualitative synthesis was used to synthesize findings.

RESULTS

Twenty articles were included and two main themes with six sub-themes were identified. Theme one described three common perceptions including urinary incontinence as a part of normal ageing, a stigma and a health problem. Each perception had a profound impact on older people's motivation to self-report the problem to health professionals. Theme two revealed three main help-seeking approaches comprising self-help, help from friends and help from health professionals. Of these, self-help was the dominant approach used to conceal urinary incontinence and contributed to social isolation.

CONCLUSION

Improving urinary incontinence management in community-dwelling older people requires the development of their capability and motivation, and increased opportunities to access and gain help from skilled health professionals.

IMPACT

Findings can facilitate resource development to improve health literacy for the general public pertinent to urinary incontinence and associated stigma. Moreover, findings can inform a user-friendly reporting and referral system for the problem. In addition, findings can inform education and skill training for health professionals, older people and their caregivers to effectively manage the problem.

Improving management of the genitourinary syndrome of menopause: evaluation of a health system-based, cluster-randomized intervention

BACKGROUND

Genitourinary symptoms are common in postmenopausal women and adversely affect the quality of life. National surveys and data collected from our healthcare system indicate that postmenopausal women with the genitourinary syndrome of menopause often fail to receive appropriate diagnosis or treatment.

OBJECTIVE

To promote greater detection and treatment of the genitourinary syndrome of menopause, we created and tested a clinician-focused health system intervention that included clinician education sessions and a suite of evidence-based electronic health record tools.

STUDY DESIGN

Using a cluster-randomized design, we allocated primary care (16) and gynecology (6) clinics to the intervention or control group. From September to November 2014, we provided training about the diagnosis and treatment of genitourinary syndrome of menopause in face-to-face presentations at each intervention clinic and in an online video. We developed clinical decision support tools in the electronic health record that contained an evidence-based, point-of-care knowledge resource, a standardized order set, and a checklist of patient education materials for the patient's after visit summary. The tools aimed to facilitate accurate diagnostic coding and prescribing (SmartSet, SmartRx) along with relevant patient information (SmartText). Clinicians who only performed visits at control clinics received no training or notification about the tools. Our primary outcome was vulvovaginal diagnoses made at well visits for women at the age of 55 years and older from November 15, 2014 to November 15, 2015. We also assessed urinary diagnoses, vaginal estrogen prescriptions, and use of the electronic tools. There was departmental support for the intervention but no prioritization within the healthcare system to incentivize change.

RESULTS

In the 1-year period, 386 clinicians performed 14,921 well visits for women at the age of 55 years and older. Among the 190 clinicians who performed well visits in the intervention clinics, 109 (57.4%) completed either in-person or online educational training. The proportion of visits that included a vulvovaginal (7.2% vs 5.8%; odds ratio, 1.27; 95% confidence interval, 0.65-2.51) or urinary diagnosis (2.5% vs 3.1%; odds ratio, 0.79; 95% confidence interval, 0.55-1.13) or vaginal estrogen prescription (4.5% vs 3.7%; odds ratio, 1.24; 95% confidence interval, 0.63-2.46) did not differ between study arms. There was a significant interaction for primary care and gynecology, which revealed more vulvovaginal diagnoses by gynecology but not primary care intervention clinics (odds ratio, 1.63; 95% confidence interval, 1.15-2.31), but there was no significant interaction for prescriptions. Clinicians in the intervention clinics were more likely to use decision support tools than those in control clinics-SmartSet (22.2% vs 1.5%; odds ratio, 18.8; 95% confidence interval, 5.5-63.8) and SmartText for patient information (38.0% vs 24.4%; odds ratio, 1.91; 95% confidence interval, 1.10-3.34). A per-protocol analysis revealed similar findings.

CONCLUSION

Overall, the intervention did not lead to more diagnoses or prescription therapy for postmenopausal genitourinary symptoms but did result in greater distribution of patient information. Gynecology clinicians were more likely to address genitourinary symptoms generally and were more likely to make a vulvovaginal diagnosis after the intervention. Further efforts for improving care should consider ongoing clinician education beginning with enhanced menopause curricula in residency training. Additional interventions to consider include greater access for postmenopausal women to gynecologic care, addressing treatment barriers, and development of national performance metrics.

Patterns of Potentially Inappropriate Bladder Antimuscarinic Use in People with Dementia: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background

Emergency department (ED) visits or hospitalizations should prompt review of the patient’s medications after discharge and targeted deprescribing to reduce ongoing risks.

Objective

To see if this is happening, we sought to examine the proportion of serious falls and delirium that were followed by a prescription fill for a bladder antimuscarinic. Our secondary objective was to identify concurrent use of other anticholinergics, cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs), and diuretics among people with dementia taking bladder antimuscarinics.

Methods

Retrospective descriptive study using data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (2011–2014) linked with Medicare claims from 2010–2014. The primary outcome was the proportion of serious falls or delirium that were followed by a bladder antimuscarinic prescription fill within 12 months. The secondary outcome was the proportion of individuals concurrently receiving prescriptions for bladder antimuscarinics, other strong anticholinergics, ChEIs, and diuretics.

Results

During the observation period, 8.88% of people with dementia filled a bladder antimuscarinic prescription. Over one-third (35%) initiated use after being identified as having dementia. Many used bladder antimuscarinics concurrently with other strong anticholinergics (19%), diuretics (42%), and ChEIs (32%). The majority (76%) of serious falls or delirium among people with dementia and bladder antimuscarinic use were followed by a bladder antimuscarinic prescription within 12 months.

Conclusions

In this descriptive study, bladder antimuscarinic prescriptions were often filled irrespective of dementia status, serious falls, or delirium. Concurrent use of other anticholinergics, diuretics, and ChEIs was common. Falls and delirium should trigger review of the medication list after discharge and targeted deprescribing in people with dementia.

Urinary Incontinence in Older Adults

This article is part of a series, Supporting Family Caregivers: No Longer Home Alone, published in collaboration with the AARP Public Policy Institute. Results of focus groups, conducted as part of the AARP Public Policy Institute's No Longer Home Alone video project, supported evidence that family caregivers aren't given the information they need to manage the complex care regimens of family members. This series of articles and accompanying videos aim to help nurses provide caregivers with the tools they need to manage their family member's health care at home.The articles in this new installment of the series provide simple and useful instructions that nurses should reinforce with family caregivers. This article is the first of two that provide an update on urinary incontinence and its management in older adults. The second article will contain an informational tear sheet-Information for Family Caregivers-that contains links to the instructional videos. To use this series, nurses should read the articles first, so they understand how best to help family caregivers, and then encourage caregivers to watch the videos and ask questions. In this article, the videos can be found in Resources for Nurses.

Review of the 6th International Consultation on Incontinence: Primary prevention of urinary incontinence

AIMS

To report the state of the science on primary prevention of urinary incontinence (UI) in adults from the 6th International Consultation on Incontinence with an update through January 2019.

METHODS

Online databases PubMed, CINAHL, PsycInfo, and Medline were searched in March 2016 and February 2019 with a focus on literature published after 2010. The International Consultation on Urological Diseases modified Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine Levels of Evidence and grades of recommendation were used to evaluate the literature.

RESULTS

Grade B recommendations to prevent UI in pregnant and postpartum women are available and promising evidence exists for educational interventions to prevent UI up to 2 years in older women. There is little evidence for adding preoperative pelvic floor muscle exercises to postprostatectomy pelvic floor muscle exercises for men to regain continence. Insufficient evidence exists for the effectiveness of screening for UI in women. The absence of information on primary prevention remains for adolescents, nulliparous and perimenopausal women, and middle-aged and aged men and women.

CONCLUSIONS

Few primary prevention interventions for UI exist for specific populations, especially pregnant and postpartum women. Research interest in developing foundational knowledge to design these interventions is growing.

Geriatric Polypharmacy: Pharmacist as Key Facilitator in Assessing for Falls Risk: 2019 Update

This article highlights the significant health impact of falls among older adults. An emphasis is placed on the vital role of the pharmacist, regardless of practice setting, in assessing and reducing falls risk for this growing population. In addition, the importance of a stepwise comprehensive approach to falls assessment by pharmacists in collaboration with other clinicians is elucidated.

Geriatric Polypharmacy: Pharmacist as Key Facilitator in Assessing for Falls Risk

This article highlights the significant health impact of falls among older adults. An emphasis is placed on the vital role of the pharmacist, regardless of practice setting, in assessing and reducing falls risk for this growing population. In addition, the importance of a stepwise comprehensive approach to falls assessment by pharmacists in collaboration with other clinicians is elucidated.

Defeating Urinary Incontinence with Exercise Training: Results of a Pilot Study in Frail Older Women

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether combining behavioral urinary incontinence (UI) treatments with physical activity improves UI in frail older women.

DESIGN

Single-blind, two-arm pilot randomized controlled trial.

SETTING

Senior apartments.

PARTICIPANTS

Frail women (mean age 84.9 ± 6.4) without dementia (n = 42).

INTERVENTION

Twelve-week program of customized behavioral UI treatments: 150 minutes of weekly walking and twice weekly strength training classes.

MEASUREMENTS

UI was measured using 3-day bladder diaries, the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire (ICIQ), and UI global improvement questions. Toileting skills were measured using the Performance Oriented Timed Toileting Instrument (POTTI) and the Minnesota Toileting Skills Questionnaire (MTSQ). Physical function was measured using the Short Physical Performance Battery. UI-related quality of life was measured using the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire and Urogenital Distress Inventory.

RESULTS

The treatment group reported a 50% reduction in daily leaks using bladder diaries, and the control group reported no change (P = .04). Although there were no group differences in total ICIQ scores (P = .66), the treatment group reported significantly greater improvement on the ICIQ item for urine leakage (P = .01). More than 81% of the treatment group and 36% of the control group reported improvement in UI (χ² = 4.84, P = .01), with mean estimated percentage improvement of 65.3 ± 32.0 versus 34.1 ± 41.3 (P = .03). Although the difference was not statistically significant, treatment group participants improved their toileting skills, whereas those of the control group declined (P = .42 POTTI, P = .11 MTSQ). Balance (P = .33) and gait (P = .24) improved more in the treatment group, whereas chair stands improved more in the control group (P = .14).

CONCLUSION

UI may be improved in frail older women by combining behavioral strategies for UI with physical activity, but larger trails are needed to determine whether these findings can be replicated and sustained.

Use of Bladder Antimuscarinics in Older Adults with Impaired Cognition

OBJECTIVE

To examine the use of antimuscarinics for treating urinary incontinence (UI) in older adults with varying levels of cognition.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional.

SETTING

National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center from 2005 through 2015.

PARTICIPANTS

Community-dwelling men and women aged 65 and older (N = 24,106).

MEASUREMENTS

Clinicians and staff evaluated each participant's dementia status during annual in-person assessments. Participants or their informants reported all medications taken in the 2 weeks before each study visit.

RESULTS

Overall, 5.2% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 4.9-5.5%) of the cohort took a bladder antimuscarinic. Participants with impaired cognition were more likely to be taking an antimuscarinic than those with normal cognition. Rates of bladder antimuscarinic use were 4.0% (95% CI = 3.6-4.4%) for participants with normal cognition, 5.6% (95% CI = 4.9-6.3%) for those with mild cognitive impairment, and 6.0% (95% CI = 5.5-6.4%) for those with dementia (p < .001). Of 624 participants with dementia who took antimuscarinics, 16% (95% CI = 13-19%) were simultaneously taking other medicines with anticholinergic properties.

CONCLUSION

Use of bladder antimuscarinics was more common in older adults with impaired cognition than in those with normal cognition. This use is despite guidelines advising clinicians to avoid prescribing antimuscarinics in individuals with dementia because of their vulnerability to anticholinergic-induced adverse cognitive and functional effects. A substantial proportion of cognitively impaired individuals who took antimuscarinics were simultaneously taking other anticholinergic medications. These findings suggest a need to improve the treatment of UI in individuals with impaired cognition.

Absorbent products use and symptom distress in women who have urinary incontinence and heart failure

AIMS

The aim of this study was to identify and describe characteristics of women with heart failure (HF) and urinary incontinence (UI) who used absorbent products to manage UI and to explore the relationship between absorbent products use and women's perceptions about UI.

METHODS

Secondary analyses were conducted on an existing dataset from a study of adults with HF. Descriptive statistics, univariate analyses, binary and multivariate logistic regression were used to identify factors and explore factors related to UI absorbent products use. Mediation analysis was also performed.

RESULTS

One hundred women had UI and information about absorbent products use. One-third reported that their UI started before their HF diagnosis. Comorbidities were prevalent: hypertension (83%), diabetes mellitus (53%), probable depression (68%) and severe depression (42%). Eighty-two women reported using absorbent products. Women with severe UI (OR 0.220, 95% CI 0.052-0.925) and white women (OR 0.174, 95% CI 0.044-0.692) were more likely to use absorbent products when compared to women with less severe UI and women of colour. Use of absorbent products led to perceptions about the importance to get help for UI, which, in turn led to higher distress from UI.

CONCLUSION

To provide interventions that reduce distress from UI in women already burdened with a serious chronic disease, clinicians must screen women who have HF for UI. Clinicians must also actively listen to how women manage UI, explore their perceptions about importance to get treatment, and understand their expectations for that treatment.