Research planned into incontinence

Press, 12 August 1986, Page 31

Research planned into incontinence

PA Auckland One New Zealand woman in 10 suffers from a medical condition about which few are prepared to talk.

The condition is urinary incontinence, or a lack of control over the bladder. The condition affects men to a lesser degree. Medical experts plan to form a research, education and communication organisation, the Association for Incontinence Advisers, to help those people affected. An association spokesman, Roger Harris, of Auckland Hospital’s department ; of geriatrics, described incontinence as “one of the best kept secrets of adult life.”

“It is a lot more common than anyone imagines,” he said. Incontinence is particularly prevalent among, but not confined to, the elderly, according to a recent New Zealand survey. • . Of those under age 65, 8.5 per cent of women and 1.6 per cent of men are believed to suffer from the condition. Of this group, only 0.2 per cent of women and 0.1 per cent of men were prepared to seek medical help. The figures were gleaned from medical officers and public surveys.

Among men and women older than 65, 11.6 per cent suffered from the condition.