Australian incontinence stats

Key statistics

• Urinary incontinence affects up to 13% of Australian men and up to 37% of Australian women.
   
• Faecal incontinence affects up to 20% of Australian men up to 12.9% of Australian women.
   
• 65% of women and 30% of men sitting in a GP waiting room report some type of urinary incontinence, yet only 31% of these people report having sought help from a health professional.
   
• Faecal incontinence is one of the three major causes (along with decreased mobility and dementia) for admittance to a residential aged care facility.
   
• Around 77% of nursing home residents in Australia are affected by incontinence.
   
• Urinary incontinence among males increases with age with up to 40% of men over the age of 85 reporting some level of urinary incontinence.
   
• The prevalence of urge incontinence, which is strongly associated with prostate disease, is fairly low in younger males and increases to 30% for those aged 70-84 and 50% for those 85 years and over.
   
• Women comprise over 70% of people affected by incontinence, with problems arising primarily after childbirth and menopause.
   
• 40-60% of people in nursing homes will wet the bed tonight.