Urinary Incontinence in Elderly Patients in the Chronic Stage of Stroke

One hundred and six elderly patients with chronic stroke who were admitted to Seiai Rehabilitation Hospital were studied regarding urinary incontinence. The average age of the subjects was 74 ± 8 years old, ranging from 60 to 94 years. Seventy three of the 106 patients (69%) had urinary incontinence which was found in 72% of brain infarction, 61% of brain hemorrhage and 67% of subarachnoid hemorrhage. The prevalence of urinary incontinence in cases of brain stem, thalamic, and putaminal hemorrhage was 80%, 67% and 46%, while that in cases of cortical infarction and infarct of perforating arteries was 84% and 68%, respectively. The rate of urinary incontinence was significantly higher in those aged 75 years or over (p<0.05), those with poor activities of daily living (ADL, p<0.005), or with dementia (p<0.001). Dementia was a complicating factor more frequently in aged patients (p<0.05) and in those with poor ADL (p<0.001), although no correlation was seen between age and ADL (p = 0.08). These results indicated the high prevalance of urinary incontinence in elderly inpatients with chronic stroke, which is significantly related to impairment of mental and physical activities.