Which of the following is a risk factor for developing urinary incontinence in an older population?

Which of the following is a risk factor for developing urinary incontinence in an older population?

• A. Enhanced ability to urge suppress
• B. Reduced bladder capacity
• C. Increased hormones causing peri-genital tissue changes
• D. Ability to empty bladder completely

Answer: (B)

As people age, the bladder’s ability to store urine tends to decline, so it can hold less before triggering a strong urge to urinate. That smaller storage capacity means urine reaches the bladder more quickly and urges come sooner, increasing the chance of leakage and thus urinary incontinence. This makes reduced bladder capacity the most direct risk factor for incontinence in an older population. An enhanced ability to suppress urges would help delay urination and reduce risk, so it isn’t a risk factor. The idea of increased hormones causing peri-genital tissue changes isn’t accurate for aging— typically estrogen declines after menopause, which can contribute to tissue changes that affect continence, not an increase in hormones. Being able to empty the bladder completely minimizes residual urine and is not a risk factor; incomplete emptying would be more related to different types of continence issues.

As people age, the bladder’s ability to store urine tends to decline, so it can hold less before triggering a strong urge to urinate. That smaller storage capacity means urine reaches the bladder more quickly and urges come sooner, increasing the chance of leakage and thus urinary incontinence. This makes reduced bladder capacity the most direct risk factor for incontinence in an older population.

An enhanced ability to suppress urges would help delay urination and reduce risk, so it isn’t a risk factor. The idea of increased hormones causing peri-genital tissue changes isn’t accurate for aging— typically estrogen declines after menopause, which can contribute to tissue changes that affect continence, not an increase in hormones. Being able to empty the bladder completely minimizes residual urine and is not a risk factor; incomplete emptying would be more related to different types of continence issues.