Characteristics of Urinary Incontinence in Bedridden Geriatric Patients

Urinary incontinence was studied in 11 elderly patients who were bedridden for more than a year in a home for the aged. The time when voiding occurred, the amount of urine at each voiding, the frequency and the interval between urinations were recorded for two periods of 3 days. Diurnal rhythm of water excretion disappeared or was reversed in most of the subjects. The amount of urine voided at one time varied considerably from time to time in the same subjects ranging from less than 50 to more than 200 ml, and this was observed during both the day and night. The average frequency of incontinent voiding was seven to eight times per day. Suggestions are made to apply the present results in the care of urinary incontenence in the aged.