Urinary incontinence in the elderly: etiology and treatment.

Urinary incontinence is a common, though often hidden, medical problem among the elderly. Urinary continence requires integrity of the neural, muscular, and hormonal systems. Five distinct types of urinary incontinence can be distinguished based on patient symptoms. A variety of factors can impair continence, including aging, environmental barriers, and medications. Both pharmacological and nonpharmacological measures are useful in the treatment of incontinence.