Association of Functional Ability and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia With Urinary Incontinence in Older Korean Men

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) and analyze its association with instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in community-dwelling older men in Korea. Methods: This study was a secondary analysis of data from the Actual Living Condition of the Elderly and Welfare Need Survey conducted in the year 2008. Data was subjected to hierarchical logistic regression analysis to examine the association of IADL and BPH with UI in older men, entering IADL and BPH in model 1, and age, body mass index (BMI) and education in model 2, and then comorbidities and walking speed in model 3. Results: Of 6,185 men, 243 (3.9%) had self-reported UI. The prevalence of UI was 1.8% in men aged 60-64 years and 11.7% in those aged 85 years and above, indicating an increase in the prevalence of UI with their age. IADL and BPH remained the only significant factors associated with UI in model 1 (odds ratio [ OR], 1.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.44-1.64 and OR, 2.73; 95% CI, 1.47-5.10, respectively), model 2 (OR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.40-1.61 and OR, 2.68; 95% CI, 1.42-5.07), and model 3 (OR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.32-1.54 and OR, 2.58; 95% CI, 1.36-4.90). Conclusions: IADL limitations and presence of BPH were associated with UI in older men after controlling for BMI, education, comorbidities, and walking speed. Thus, UI should be assessed in older Korean men with IADL decline and BPH. Gender-sensitive interventions to attenuate IADL limitations and manage BPH should be developed and applied to improve UI in older men.