How common is urinary incontinence?

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How common is urinary incontinence?

It is estimated that about 13 million Americans, and between 10% and 35% of all adults, have some form of urinary incontinence. Incontinence occurs twice as often in women as in men, but both men and women of all races are increasingly likely to develop incontinence as they get older.¹

• About half of people who live in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities have incontinence.²
• Up to 20% of older men and one-third of older women have incontinence.³

References

Citations

1. Payne CK (2002). Urinary incontinence: Nonsurgical management. In PC Walsh et al., eds., Campbell's Urology, 8th ed., vol. 2, pp. 1069–1091. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders.

2. Tanagho EA (2004). Urinary incontinence. In EA Tanagho et al., eds., Smith's General Urology, 16th ed., pp. 473–491. New York: McGraw-Hill.

3. Ouslander JG (2004). Urinary incontinence. In L Goldman, D Ausiello, eds., Cecil Textbook of Medicine, 22nd ed., vol. 1, pp. 111–114. Philadelphia: Saunders.

Credits

Last updated:	September 22, 2006
Author:	Kathe Gallagher, MSW
Reviewed By:	Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine, Avery L. Seifert, MD - Urology
Editors:	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Terrina Vail