HC Deb 25 February 1988 vol 128 cc292-3W
Mr. Andrew Bowden

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give his current best estimate of the number of incontinence sufferers in the United Kingdom; if he will give an estimate of the distribution in incontinence by age and sex; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Currie

An epidemiological survey conducted by the Medical Research Council's epidemiology and medical care unit between 1976 and 1986 covering a sample of the general population in England and Wales showed rates of prevalence of urinary incontinence per thousand population as follows:

Aged Number
Males
5–14 69
15–64 16

Aged Number
Over 65 69
Femaies
5–14 51
15–64 85
Over 65 116

As faecal incontinence is less common, it is not possible to give precise prevalence figures.