INCONTINÊNCIA URINÁRIA EM MULHERES IDOSAS E A IMPORTÂNCIA DO FORTALECIMENTO DO ASSOALHO PÉLVICO PARA A QUALIDADE DE VIDA

Uma revisão exploratória integrativa da literatura.

Abstract

Urinary incontinence (UI) is characterized by the involuntary loss of urine and constitutes an important public health issue that predominantly affects older women. Factors such as pelvic floor weakening, decreased estrogen levels during menopause, high parity, obesity, and aging contribute to its occurrence. UI is classified as stress, urge, or mixed incontinence, generating negative impacts on quality of life, with physical, psychological, social, and sexual repercussions. This exploratory integrative review aimed to synthesize scientific evidence on the prevalence of UI in elderly women and to assess the importance of pelvic floor muscle training for symptom control and quality-of-life improvement. A search was conducted in September 2025 in the Google Scholar, SciELO, PubMed, and EbscoHost databases, including articles published between 2020 and 2025 in Portuguese and English. Of the 32 studies identified, 20 were selected according to eligibility criteria and the PRISMA flowchart. The results showed a high prevalence of UI in older women, an association with physical inactivity, multiple childbirths, and menopause, as well as a negative impact on various dimensions of quality of life. Pelvic floor training, whether performed alone or combined with biofeedback, electrostimulation, and kinesiotherapy, proved to be a safe, accessible, and effective conservative intervention and should be considered the first-line therapeutic approach. It is concluded that pelvic floor strengthening is essential for reducing episodes of urinary leakage, increasing autonomy, and promoting quality of life in elderly women with urinary incontinence, reinforcing the need for early diagnosis and multidisciplinary action in primary health care.