Urinary incontinence

There is no evidence for screening for urinary incontinence in the general population. Instead, GPs should case-find those at higher risk (B).

Within the general population, up to 19% of children,¹ 13% of men and 37% of women may be affected by some form of urinary incontinence.² While urinary incontinence is most common in women and increases with age, bedwetting (enuresis) is common in children (5.5% of children also report daytime wetting).¹ In men, uncomplicated lower urinary tract symptoms do not appear to be associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer.³ Of those sitting in a GP waiting room, 65% of women and 30% of men report some type of urinary incontinence, yet only 31% of these people report having sought help from a health professional.⁴Primary care professionals are in a position to take a more proactive approach to incontinence treatment by asking about urinary symptoms in at-risk groups during routine appointments. There remains considerable health decrement due to urinary incontinence in those not receiving help in a population readily accessible to primary care services.⁵

Table 13.1

Urinary incontinence: Identifying risk

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Table 13.2

Urinary incontinence: Preventive interventions

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