[KoK! Health] Frequent Urination Disorders in Your 60s... Thorough Prevention to Avoid Complications

The number of patients experiencing difficulties with urination due to dysfunction of the bladder and urethra is increasing every year. In particular, patients aged 60 and over account for about 60%. Many patients tend to ignore these symptoms, thinking they are simply due to aging, but prompt treatment is necessary as leaving them untreated can lead to complications.

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According to the National Health Insurance Service on the 13th, the number of patients treated for voiding disorders in 2021 was 746,059, a 30% increase compared to 2017. This corresponds to an average annual increase of 6.7%. By gender, there were 290,729 men and 455,330 women, with women being more numerous; however, the number of male patients increased by 48.7% from 195,557 in 2017.

By age group, those aged 60 and over accounted for 447,490 patients (59.9%), with the 60s age group being the largest at 168,422 patients (22.6%). Professor Jae-won Park of the Department of Urology at National Health Insurance Ilsan Hospital explained that the reasons for the high number of patients in their 60s include "various causes such as decreased detrusor muscle contractility and bladder capacity due to aging, underlying diseases like diabetes, and certain medications that can cause voiding disorders, which act in combination." He added, "Benign prostatic hyperplasia is also one of the main causes in men," and explained, "Moreover, relatively younger seniors in their 60s are recognizing voiding disorders through social activities and sharing information on SNS, leading them to visit urology clinics."

The causes of voiding disorders include abnormalities in storage function such as detrusor overactivity and overactive bladder, or abnormalities in voiding function such as bladder outlet obstruction and decreased bladder contractility, as well as aging, changes in sex hormones, brain-spinal cord neurological diseases, and medication use. These factors cause neural changes in the bladder, central nervous system changes, and morphological and functional changes in the detrusor muscle and bladder, which are known to induce lower urinary tract symptoms.

The main diseases causing lower urinary tract symptoms differ between men and women due to anatomical structural differences. In men, bladder outlet obstruction caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia is common, while in women, stress urinary incontinence and overactive bladder are common conditions. Additionally, detrusor underactivity, detrusor instability, and sensory urgency can also cause symptoms.

Voiding disorders are broadly divided into storage symptoms, voiding symptoms, and post-voiding symptoms. Storage symptoms include daytime frequency, nocturia, urgency, and urinary incontinence. Voiding symptoms include weak stream (hypoactive stream), intermittent stream, hesitancy, and straining to void. Post-voiding symptoms include a sensation of incomplete emptying or post-void dribbling.

Treatment methods vary slightly depending on the symptoms. For storage dysfunction, pharmacological treatments include anticholinergic agents and muscle relaxants to strengthen bladder storage function, and alpha-adrenergic agonists to enhance bladder outlet function. Non-pharmacological treatments include pelvic floor muscle exercises and biofeedback. Surgical treatments include bladder neck sling surgery and artificial urinary sphincter surgery.

For voiding dysfunction, pharmacological treatments to reduce bladder outlet resistance include alpha-adrenergic blockers and muscle relaxants. When voiding difficulties are caused by prostate enlargement, 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors are used to reduce prostate size. Surgical treatments include transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), holmium laser enucleation of the prostate, open or robotic prostatectomy, and urethral stenting.

To prevent such voiding disorders, a regular lifestyle and sufficient rest are essential. Avoid sitting for prolonged periods, and refrain from consuming oily, spicy, salty foods, alcohol, tobacco, and coffee. It is beneficial to consume fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes and garlic. Since obesity is a major cause of voiding disorders due to bladder compression, maintaining an appropriate weight is important, and holding urine for long periods should be avoided.

Voiding disorders often come with aging, and many patients neglect to visit a hospital despite symptoms. In such cases, various complications can arise, significantly affecting quality of life. Residual urine in the bladder can cause cystitis or urinary stones, and if it progresses further, kidney function may deteriorate, leading to acute renal failure or urinary tract infections such as pyelonephritis. Acute urinary retention, where there is an urge to urinate but no urine output, may occur, requiring catheter insertion in the emergency room.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.