Prevalence and risk factors of incontinence after stroke. The Copenhagen Stroke Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate in a community-based population the prevalence of both urinary (UI) and fecal (FI) incontinence and to analyze risk factors by means of multivariate analysis.

METHODS: Included were 935 acute stroke patients admitted consecutively during 19 months. We evaluated UI and FI using subscores of the Barthel Index during the hospital stay and at 6-month follow-up.

RESULTS: On admission, the proportions of patients with full UI, partial UI, and no UI were 36%, 11%, and 53%, respectively (8%, 11%, and 81% at 6-month follow-up). The proportions of patients, with full FI, partial FI, and no FI on admission were 34%, 6%, and 60%, respectively (5%, 4%, and 91% at 6-month follow-up). By multivariate analysis, significant risk factors for UI and FI were age, severity of stroke, diabetes, and comorbidity of other disabling diseases.

CONCLUSIONS: On admission in the acute state, almost half of an unselected stroke population have UI and/or FI. The proportion declines to one fifth (UI) and one tenth (FI) of the surviving patients at 6 months. Increasing age, stroke severity, diabetes, and other disabling diseases increase the risk of UI as well as FI.