Urinary Incontinence and Sedentary Behaviour in Nursing Homes

Plain-language summary

The increase of the older adult population in the past years has generated an important impact on chronic conditions and geriatric syndromes like dementia, falls and urinary incontinence (UI). To better understand IU seems warranted because of its socioeconomic and health impact. Nursing home (NH) residents are the frailest segment of our population, with very low physical activity levels and highly sedentary. Several studies had shown that physical activity levels and time and patterns of sedentary behaviour (SB) are independent risk factors for many health issues. As far as the investigators know, there is no evidence supporting the relation between IU and SB, and no information about the incidence of IU in NH residents living in Catalonia (Spain). This project consists of two stages: stage 1 will conduct a cross-sectional study using mixed methodology (qualitative and quantitative), and a 2-year longitudinal study (stage 2). Stage 1 has the main objective of verifying the prevalence of IU and its associated factors in NH residents in Barcelona (Spain), as well as analyse the association between IU (and their types) with SB time and patterns. In addition, the proportion of geriatric residents who receive control measures for their IU, and whether they receive SB-related interventions from health professionals of the institution will be also explored. Finally, the investigators aim to understand the experience of NH residents and the health professionals who care for them about the characteristics, burden and barriers of having IU. Stage 2 has the main objective to verify the incidence of the functional and continence decline, falls, hospitalizations and mortality, as well as their predictive factors in older care/nursing home residents in Barcelona (Spain). Specific objetives are to assess the evolution of each activity of daily living and the causes of hospitalization and death in geriatrics residents for a period of 2 years and to verify the incidence of recurrent falls (one or more falls), and analyse the consequences of falls (fractures, hospitalizations, among others) among the residents. Potential risk and protective factors for mortality due to COVID-19 and its impact on functioning and hospitalizations will also be analyzed. Finally, the stage 2 of the project aims at creating a specific instrument for the evaluation of frailty in institutionalized older people, based on the main predictive factors of functional decline.

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