Manage urinary incontinence in COPD depending on whether it is stress, urge or mixed.

Urinary incontinence is a seemingly common, but largely unexplored, comorbidity associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is not only related to older age or the leakage of urine from increased abdominal pressure while coughing (i.e. stress incontinence), but is also possibly an adverse effect of respiratory or non-respiratory drugs. Physicians should actively and routinely screen COPD patients for urinary incontinence and choose the course of management depending on whether it is stress, urge or mixed. Management options include discontinuing or replacing offending agents, prompt referral to specialist continence therapists and antimuscarinic pharmacotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]