Depression Linked to Urinary Incontinence in Men
Depression Linked to Urinary Incontinence in Men
June 2, 2010 (San Francisco) -- Major depression, hypertension, enlarged prostates, and older age are all associated with an increased risk of moderate to severe urinary incontinence (UI) in men, a large study suggests.
The findings, which provide one of the first national snapshots of urinary incontinence in men, may help improve doctors' ability to identify men who are suffering from the condition, says study head Alayne D. Markland, DO, MS, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Put simply, UI is uncontrollable leaking of urine from the bladder.
Overall, 4.5% of American men suffer from moderate to severe urinary incontinence, which corresponds to having leakage at least once a month, the study shows.
"It's enough to potentially interfere with their quality of life," Markland tells WebMD.
The rate increases with age, from 0.7% in men ages 20 to 34 to 16% in men age 75 and older, the study showed.
The findings were presented at the annual meeting of the American Urological Association.
Slideshow: Incontinence in Men
The findings, which provide one of the first national snapshots of urinary incontinence in men, may help improve doctors' ability to identify men who are suffering from the condition, says study head Alayne D. Markland, DO, MS, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Put simply, UI is uncontrollable leaking of urine from the bladder.
Overall, 4.5% of American men suffer from moderate to severe urinary incontinence, which corresponds to having leakage at least once a month, the study shows.
"It's enough to potentially interfere with their quality of life," Markland tells WebMD.
The rate increases with age, from 0.7% in men ages 20 to 34 to 16% in men age 75 and older, the study showed.
The findings were presented at the annual meeting of the American Urological Association.
Slideshow: Incontinence in Men