Symptomatic of Urge Incontinence By Jennifer B. Buckley Older women with urge incontinence may be more likely to fall and fracture a bone compared to women who are not urge incontinent, according to a new study. Although slip and falls are common health concerns for older women, their risk of falling increases if they also have urge incontinence. Researchers studied more than 6,000 women aged 72 and older, with frequent urinary incontinence. The study was published in the July issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Falls are also a frequent problem in the elderly population.
In fact, falls affect one out of three people ages 65 and older each year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. They rate as the most widely seen cause of injuries and hospital admissions for trauma. In addition, falling and fracturing a bone can change someone s life forever. About half of older adults who are hospitalized with a hip fracture, are unable to live independently again. A person with urge incontinence may feel an overwhelming compulsion to empty their bladder, if it contains urine.