More than 12,600 elderly people a year develop urinary incontinence after suffering strokes, the Hong Kong Geriatrics Society estimates, based on the results of a survey.
Among 1,159 stroke patients polled last year between February and May in 13 public hospitals, 63.1 per cent were not able to control their urge to go to toilet. This compared with 12.8 per cent with the problem before their stroke.
The society said yesterday the survey was the largest of its type carried out in the world, and the first in Asia to study the relationship between stroke and urinary incontinence.
Of the stroke patients who did not have urinary problems, only 13.1 per cent needed to stay in homes for the elderly, but the percentage for those with incontinence was 42.7 per cent.
The death rate of those with incontinence was 4.8 per cent, much higher than the 1.2 per cent among those without.
Survey leader Dr Edward Leung Man-fuk, a specialist in geriatrics, said about 20 per cent of patients suffering from urinary incontinence would need to wear plastic collection tubes, urinary catheters, for the rest of their lives.