Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are more common as we grow older

Did you know that urinary tract infections (UTIs) are more common as we grow older? And were you aware that aging can affect the range of symptoms you experience with a UTI? In elderly people, the signs of a UTI aren’t always easily recognized. But if left untreated, a UTI is dangerous for an elderly person.

Several factors can make people of all genders more vulnerable to infections as they age. Some of the reasons why elderly people get UTIs at higher rates include:

1. Urinary retention

You are more likely to develop a UTI if you cannot completely empty your bladder when you pee (a condition called urinary retention). That’s because stagnant urine is a breeding ground for bacteria.

The elderly are more likely to experience urinary retention. Some age-related reasons for this include:

• Bladder muscles become weaker and less flexible with age.
• Enlarged prostate glands in older men can prevent urine from flowing smoothly.
• Prolapsed bladders in women (a condition in which the bladder drops, sometimes into the vagina) can lead to difficulties in completely emptying the bladder.
• Kidney stones and constipation can block the flow of urine.

2. Incontinence

Both urinary and bowel incontinence can create conditions that lead to UTIs. Wearing pads or adult diapers to deal with incontinence can raise the risk if they aren’t changed often enough.

3. Hormonal Changes

As estrogen declines with age, E. coli can grow unchecked because the number of “good” bacteria that fight E. coli also declines.

4. Obesity

People with higher body mass indexes (BMIs) have higher rates of UTIs. If you gain weight with age, you could be at greater risk for a UTI.

5. Prior infections

Your odds of acquiring a UTI increase if you’ve had one before. The Aging Health study found that women who have gone through menopause are four times more likely to develop a UTI if they’ve had one before than women who’ve never had a UTI.

6. Medical conditions

Because diabetics often have weakened immunity, they are at greater risk for UTIs. In addition, other medical conditions that are more common in older adults—such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimers, and multiple sclerosis—are linked to increased rates of UTIs because they can lead to bladder problems. “Neurogenic bladder” is the term used when disruptions in the way the brain communicates to the bladder cause problems like urinary retention.

7. Catheter use

Bacteria can enter the urinary system through a catheter. Catheter-acquired urinary infections from indwelling catheters (i.e., catheters that remain attached to the body) represent one of the most common causes of infections within long-term care facilities.