Kate Smith1,2, Ailsa Sutherland3, Zoë Hyde1, Ruth Crawford3, Anna Dwyer1,4, Roslyn Malay1, Linda Skeaf1, Leon Flicker1, David Atkinson5,6, Dina LoGiudice7. 1. Western Australian Centre for Health and Ageing, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. 2. Centre for Aboriginal Medical and Dental Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. 3. Kimberley Aged and Community Services, Broome, Western Australia, Australia. 4. Nulungu Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Broome, Western Australia, Australia. 5. Rural Clinical School of WA, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. 6. Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services, Broome, Western Australia, Australia. 7. Aged Care, Melbourne Health and The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Little is known about urinary incontinence in older Aboriginal Australians. AIM: To describe urinary incontinence assessment, prevalence, incidence and associated conditions in older Aboriginal Australians. METHODS: Wave 1 consisted of 363 Aboriginal participants aged ≥45 years from Western Australia; 289 participants participated in Wave 2, with 184 included at both time points. Urinary incontinence was assessed by self-report, family report and the modified International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire (ICIQ). We investigated factors associated with incontinence with binary logistic regression. Sensitivity and specificity analyses of incontinence measures were undertaken using the ICIQ score ≥2 as the reference standard. RESULTS: Participant mean age was 61.2 ± 11.2 years. Prevalence of incontinence at Wave 2 (n = 289) using self-report was 24.6%; using ICIQ ≥2 was 22.5%; and family report 14.2%. Incidence after follow-up of 6.7 years was 33 (23.6%), higher than estimates of 5-20% in other populations. Cross-sectional associations with incontinence include female sex (odds ratio (OR) = 6.82; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.98-15.57), stroke (OR = 3.55; 95% CI 1.43-8.77), head injury (OR = 3.15; 95% CI 1.54-6.45) and depressive symptoms (OR = 1.07; 95% CI 1.01-1.14). Longitudinal associations were age (OR = 1.05; 95% CI 1.01-1.09) and female sex (OR = 2.37; 95% CI 0.99-5.67). Sensitivity (81.5%) and specificity (93.5%) of self-report were high. CONCLUSION: The prevalence and incidence of urinary incontinence in Aboriginal Australians is high with risk factors of older age and female sex. The modified ICIQ and self-report appear to be appropriate incontinence screens. Further research to understand causes and treatments within this population is urgently required.
BACKGROUND: Little is known about urinary incontinence in older Aboriginal Australians. AIM: To describe urinary incontinence assessment, prevalence, incidence and associated conditions in older Aboriginal Australians. METHODS:Wave 1 consisted of 363 Aboriginal participants aged ≥45 years from Western Australia; 289 participants participated in Wave 2, with 184 included at both time points. Urinary incontinence was assessed by self-report, family report and the modified International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire (ICIQ). We investigated factors associated with incontinence with binary logistic regression. Sensitivity and specificity analyses of incontinence measures were undertaken using the ICIQ score ≥2 as the reference standard. RESULTS:Participant mean age was 61.2 ± 11.2 years. Prevalence of incontinence at Wave 2 (n = 289) using self-report was 24.6%; using ICIQ ≥2 was 22.5%; and family report 14.2%. Incidence after follow-up of 6.7 years was 33 (23.6%), higher than estimates of 5-20% in other populations. Cross-sectional associations with incontinence include female sex (odds ratio (OR) = 6.82; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.98-15.57), stroke (OR = 3.55; 95% CI 1.43-8.77), head injury (OR = 3.15; 95% CI 1.54-6.45) and depressive symptoms (OR = 1.07; 95% CI 1.01-1.14). Longitudinal associations were age (OR = 1.05; 95% CI 1.01-1.09) and female sex (OR = 2.37; 95% CI 0.99-5.67). Sensitivity (81.5%) and specificity (93.5%) of self-report were high. CONCLUSION: The prevalence and incidence of urinary incontinence in Aboriginal Australians is high with risk factors of older age and female sex. The modified ICIQ and self-report appear to be appropriate incontinence screens. Further research to understand causes and treatments within this population is urgently required.