What age-related pattern is typically seen with urgency urinary incontinence?

• A. Prevalence decreases with age
• B. Prevalence increases with age
• C. No clear pattern with age
• D. Only occurs after age 80

Answer: (B)

As people age, changes in bladder function and pelvic support make urgency urinary incontinence more likely. The aging detrusor muscle can become overactive, bladder capacity often decreases, and pelvic floor tissues weaken. Hormonal changes after menopause can affect urethral closure, and older adults frequently have other health conditions or take medications that heighten urgency or leakage. Because these age-related factors accumulate over time, the prevalence of urgency urinary incontinence tends to rise with age. It’s not something that only appears after a specific cutoff like age 80, and it does not generally decline as people get older, so the pattern is clearly an increasing one with age.