Urinary Incontinence In Elderly From A View Of A Pharmacist: Detrusor Impairment And Treatment

Abstract

Aging results in impairments in the bladder function and causes alterations in many organs. In recent clinical studies, aging has been shown to alter the bladder function based on the observed decrease in filling, storage and emptying capacities of the bladder. In experimental studies, it has been postulated that aging changes the bladder function via symptoms such as a decrease in its voiding efficacy and an unwanted increase in its activity. This causes enuresis, also known as urinary incontinence, an important social concern that negatively affects the quality of the patient's social life. The incidence of urinary incontinence is particularly an issue in older women; the adverse effects of the drugs used for treatment and compliance issues prevent a successful treatment. In some studies examining the effects of aging on rat bladder, it has been proposed that the intracellular signalling mechanisms of agonist-induced contractile responses may be altered with an increase in age. The permeabilised smooth muscle model is an efficient tool for investigating the functions of contractile proteins and intracellular organelles, which play a role in smooth muscle contractions. This model facilitates the study of the contractile functions in young and old animals to develop new drug molecules for the treatment of urinary incontinence. Although currently, antimuscarinic drugs are primarily used for the treatment of this condition, their adverse effects limit their efficacy.