Adult
Incontinence - There are an estimated 13 million Americans
who suffer from Adult
Incontinence with 11 million of them being females, according
to the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR). More
than 50% of elderly persons living at home or in long-term care
facilities are incontinent, Urinary and fecal incontinence is
not merely linked to age but can be associated with pregnancy,
childbirth, caffeine intake, certain medications, IBS, colitis
and other digestive track diseases. There are four main types
of Adult
Incontinence: Stress incontinence, urge incontinence, mixed
incontinence (a combination of the first two) and overflow incontinence.
Adult
Incontinence risk factors:
Adult
Incontinence is almost always due to an underlying medical
condition. However, you are more likely to experience Adult
Incontinence in your lifetime if any of the following risk
factors describe you (often, Adult
Incontinence is due to more than one cause):
Obesity
Smoking
Pregnant or have carried to full term
Postmenopausal
Have bladder infections
Aged 60 years or older
Have an enlarged prostate or a family history of prostate trouble
Have had pelvic surgery or injury
Have had a disease that might cause nerve or muscle damage
Have had a stroke
ANALYSIS An aging population has been good news for the makers
of adult incontinence products, as demand for such products has
increased as more Americans enter their senior years. Sales advanced
4.3% in the 52-week period ended June 15, 2003, according to Information
Resources Inc., to reach $507.9 million. Drug stores have traditionally
done particularly well in the category, trading on their strength
as health care destinations. Helping to reinforce the connection
is the fact that incontinence can arise as a side effect of some
medical conditions and procedures.
Probably the one segment of the hygiene market that can still
depend on growth, adult incontinence has benefited in recent years
from the graying populations in developed countries. People are
living longer and subsequently requiring incontinence devices.
Whether the disorder is mild, requiring only a panty shield, or
more severe, requiring protective underwear or adult diapers,
older consumers are relying on adult incontinence items to protect
them and fend off embarrassment.
