Medication use and control of urination among community-dwelling older adults

Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether the use of medications with urological activity (UA) is associated with self-reported difficulty in control of urination. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study using data from the Duke Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly. Results: Difficulty holding urine was reported by 49.5% of men and 54.0% of the women. Overall, 50.9% of men and 72.7% of the women took one or more medications with UA. Multivariable logistic regression for men revealed that neither use of any medication with UA (Adjusted [Adj.] Odds Ratio [OR] 1.12, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.84-1.50) nor the number of medications with UA used was associated with urinary difficulties (Adj. OR 1.08, 95% CI 0.97-1.21). For women, there was a significant association (p <.05) between use of any medication with UA and reported urinary difficulty (Adj. OR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.05-1.62). Discussion: Medications with UA may be related to difficulty in controlling urine among community-dwelling elderly women.