Recurrent lower urinary tract infections: more than an infection for older women

Background/aim: Older adults tend to have more urinary tract infections (UTIs). The frequency of recurrent lower urinary tract infections (rLUTIs) increases with age. rLUTIs are associated with long-term chronic effects on geriatric syndromes in older adults. We aimed to investigate possible risk factors that influence rLUTIs in older adults based on comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA). Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study included 235 older adults admitted to Gaziantep University's Geriatric Outpatient Clinic between June 1 and November 30, 2022. All patients underwent CGA. The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), the European Quality of Life-Five Dimension (EQ-5D) questionnaire, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Katz Index of Activities of Daily Living (ADL), the Lawton and Brody Index of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL), and the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) tool were ,administered. Handgrip strength (HGS) and gait speed were also measured, and the number of falls in the last year was recorded. Results: The mean age of the participants was 72.8 +/- 6.8 years and 61.3% were female. Sixty-four patients had rLUTIs. The rLUTI group had higher frequencies of sarcopenia, hypertension, and diabetes; higher numbers of comorbidities and medications; higher GDS and PSQI scores; and more reported falls. They had lower ADL, MNA, EQ-5D, and gait speed scores. HGS was found to be lower in women with rLUTIs. Higher numbers of comorbidities and GDS scores and lower HGS were independent predictors of rLUTIs in women (p = 0.011, OR: 1.75; p = 0.018, OR: 1.14; and p = 0.042, OR: 0.91, respectively). Conclusion: We revealed that decreased HGS, higher GDS, and the number of comorbidities in older women were independent risk factors for rLUTIs. Our findings offer a new perspective on the importance of CGA in diagnosing and preventing rLUTIs.