Urinary incontinence is referred to as a “late loss ADL” however many of our female residents are wearing incontinent briefs and/or pads every day, and few receive evidence-based care for their incontinence. The consequences of untreated urinary incontinence are lower quality of life with higher morbidity and mortality. A recent systematic review commissioned by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) and conducted by AHRQ’s Evidence-based Practice Research program, conclusively demonstrated that there are many effective, non-surgical approaches for managing urinary incontinence.

Per the AHRQ, the time to address the problem is now. Clinicians, researchers, public health advocates, and others must work together to help women get treated for urinary incontinence and to avoid the costs and harms of untreated urinary incontinence in the future. Because people with health concerns often turn first to their primary care provider, AHRQ has released a new Funding Opportunity Announcement to develop and implement interventions to increase screening and treatment for women with urinary incontinence in primary care.

The AHRQ hopes that this effort will improve the lives of women. The negative impacts of ongoing urinary incontinence on patients and their families can be costly. These consequences are powerful incentives for us to work together and increase the use of evidence to tackle this urgent public health concern. Stay the course, stay well, get vaccinated, and stay tuned!