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Cited by 80Pelvic floor disorders treatmentsUrinary Bladder and Prostate ResearchGeriatric Care and Nursing Homes

The Prevalence, Incidence, and Correlates of Fecal Incontinence Among Older People Residing in Care Homes: A Systematic Review

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Musa, Massirfufulay Kpehe, Saga, Susan, Blekken, Lene Elisabeth, Harris, Ruth, Goodman, Claire, Norton, Christine·2019·Journal of the American Medical Directors Association
DOI 10.1016/j.jamda.2019.03.033
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Older people resident in care homes often rely on staff for support relating to their activities of daily living, including intimate care such as continence care. Managing fecal incontinence can be challenging for both residents and care staff. We conducted this review to describe the prevalence, incidence, and correlates of fecal incontinence among care home residents. DESIGN: Systematic literature review. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Older care home residents (both nursing and residential care) aged 60 years and older. MEASURES: We defined double incontinence as the presence of fecal plus urinary incontinence, isolated fecal incontinence as fecal incontinence with no urinary incontinence, and all fecal incontinence as anyone with fecal incontinence (whether isolated or double). The CINAHL and MEDLINE databases were searched up to December 31, 2017, to retrieve all studies reporting the prevalence and/or incidence and correlates of fecal incontinence. RESULTS: We identified 278 citations after removing duplicates, and 23 articles met the inclusion criteria. There were 12 high-quality studies, 5 medium-quality studies, and 6 low-quality studies. The medians for prevalence (as reported by the studies) of isolated fecal incontinence, double incontinence, and all fecal incontinence were 3.5% [interquartile range (IQR) = 2.8%], 47.1% (IQR = 32.1%), and 42.8% (IQR = 21.1%), respectively. The most frequently reported correlates of fecal incontinence were cognitive impairment, limited functional capacity, urinary incontinence, reduced mobility, advanced age, and diarrhea. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS: Fecal incontinence is prevalent among older people living in care homes. Correlates included impaired ability to undertake activities of daily living, reduced mobility, laxative use, and altered stool consistency (eg, constipation or diarrhea) which are potentially amenable to interventions to improve fecal incontinence.

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Authors
Musa, M. K., Saga, S., Blekken, L. E., Harris, R., Goodman, C., & Norton, C.
Affiliations
  • King's College London (GB)
  • Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NO)
  • University of Hertfordshire (GB)
Corresponding author
Musa, Massirfufulay Kpehe
ORCID
Venue
Journal of the American Medical Directors Association
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2019-08
Volume
20
Issue
8
Pages
956-962.e8
ISSN
1525-8610 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.jamda.2019.03.033
OpenAlex
W2945880781
Cited by
80
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 11 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 1
FWCI
1.21
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of the American Medical Directors Association (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • University of Hertfordshire Research Archive (University of Hertfordshire) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • NORA - Norwegian Open Research Archives (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Funders
Abbeyfield Research Foundation
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Rheumatology › Pelvic floor disorders treatments
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Urology › Urinary Bladder and Prostate Research
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes
Keywords
fecal incontinence, nursing home residents, older adults, nursing homes, prevalence, incidence, urinary incontinence, double incontinence, cognitive impairment, functional capacity, mobility, diarrhea, laxative use, continence care, activities of daily living
MeSH terms
Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Fecal Incontinence, Homes for the Aged, Humans, Nursing Homes, Incidence, Prevalence

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