Urinary incontinence, functional status, and health-related quality of life among Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in the program for all-inclusive care for the elderly and dual eligible demonstration special needs plans

Abstract

The Health Outcomes Survey-Modified is a brief annual survey completed by enrollees in the Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly and selected special needs plans to collect functional status information used to adjust Medicare payments to these plans. We examined the relationship between urinary incontinence, functional limitations, and health-related quality of life among 16 387 respondents to the 2009 Health Outcomes Survey-Modified. Measures were the physical and mental components scores and self-rated general health derived from the Veterans RAND 12-Item Health Survey (VR-12). Urinary incontinence is prevalent among frail community-dwelling adults and has substantial impact on quality of life.