Epidemiology of urinary tract infection among community-living seniors aged 50 plus: population estimates and risk factors

Background Urinary tract infection (UTI) is common in all ages but risk factors among adults 50 and older are not well studied. One unexplored potential risk factor is constipation, a known UTI risk factor among children. Objective Describe the UTI incidence among U.S. women and men aged 50 and older and the association between constipation and other risk factors and UTI. Methods A web interview was administered October 12-16, 2023 to U.S. adults aged 50 and older participating in a probability-based panel representative of the U.S. household population age 50 or older. The primary study outcome was self-reported healthcare provider diagnosed and treated UTI in the previous 12 months. All results were weighted to represent the U.S. household population. Results The 12-month UTI incidence was 19.8% among women and 6.4% among men. Recurrence was common: 10% of women and 7% of men with a UTI had 3 more UTIs in the previous 12 months. 32% of the population reported being constipated sometimes, frequently or always. UTI incidence increased with more frequent constipation in a dose response manner among women and men. After adjusting for age, gender, having a body mass index >30 and an overnight hospital stay in the previous 12 months, those reporting sometimes being constipated were 3.69 times, and those often or always constipated were 5.48 times more likely than those never constipated to have a UTI in the previous 12 months. Discussion This is the first report of an association between UTI and constipation among older adults. Reducing constipation might reduce UTI incidence among older women and men.