Prevalence of silent fecal and urinary incontinence in women from the town of Teruel Prevalencia de la incontinencia anal y urinaria silentes en mujeres de la ciudad de Teruel

• Main Authors: A. Ballester, M. Mínguez, B. Herreros, V. Hernández, V. Sanchiz, A. Benages
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Aran Ediciones 2005-02-01
• Series: Revista Espanola de Enfermedades Digestivas
• Subjects: Incontinencia anal; Incontinencia urinaria; Mujer; Prevalencia; Factores de riesgo; Fecal incontinence; Urinary incontinence; Women; Prevalence; Risk factors
• Online Access: http://scielo.isciii.es/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1130-01082005000200002

Objectives: to study the prevalence of fecal (FI) and urinary incontinence (UI) in women from Teruel (Spain), as well as the clinical conditions associated with these disorders. Methods: we studied prospectively women with an age range of 20-64 yrs. who were randomly selected from the population seen in a primary care center because of medical disorders not related to incontinence. Patients with functional or cognitive impairment were excluded. Medical and obstetric antecedents, as well as the type and frequency of incontinence symptoms were collected in a questionnaire. Results: out of 115 women, 103 completed the study (mean age: 41&plusmn;12 yrs. range 20-64). UI was present in 34.9% (stress 33%, urge 14%, mixed 47%), FI in 14 (13.6%) (flatus 57%, liquid stools 43%), and 10 (9.7%) displayed both disorders. Age > 42 yr. and body mass index &ge; 25 were associated with FI and UI; pregnancy was only associated with UI, but the group of women with &ge; 2 vaginal deliveries showed a higher frequency of FI (p < 0.05, Chi squared test). In the multivariate analysis, only the presence of UI was associated with FI (OR 6.0; CI 95% 1.7-21). Association of FI and UI was more frequent in women older than 42 yr. (OR 16.7, CI 95% 1.9-141). No statistical differences were found when smoking, exercise, and type of childbirth were compared between the presence/absence of FI or UI. Conclusions: urinary and fecal incontinence are frequent in women, and the coexistence of both disorders is not uncommon. Age, overweight and parity are associated with the presence of fecal and/or urinary incontinence.<br>Objetivos: conocer la prevalencia de la incontinencia anal (IA) y urinaria (IU), así como los factores asociados, en mujeres con capacidad social autónoma en la ciudad de Teruel. Métodos: estudio prospectivo aleatorizado en 115 mujeres (20-64 años) que acudieron a un centro de asistencia primaria por motivos independientes de IA o IU, sin alteraciones físicas ni psíquicas que pudieran condicionar la existencia de incontinencia. Resultados: completaron el estudio 103 mujeres (89,5%): 34,9% presentaban IU (33% de esfuerzo, 14% de urgencia y 47% mixta); 14 (13,6%) referían IA (57% a gases y 42,9% a heces líquidas) y 10 (9,7%) presentaban IA e IU. En el análisis univariante, la edad > 42 años y el índice de masa corporal > 25 se asocian con la IA y con la IU; la existencia de embarazos a término, con la IU, y la existencia de dos o más partos vaginales se correlaciona con la IA (p < 0,05). La IA se relaciona con la presencia de IU (OR 6,0; IC 95%: 1,7-21,0). No encontramos asociación con tipo de parto, hábitos tabáquico o enólico ni práctica deportiva. La doble incontinencia (IA y IU) se asocia con la edad mayor de 42 años (OR 16,7, IC 95%: 1,9-141,1). Conclusiones: en la mujer, la incontinencia urinaria, así como a gases y heces líquidas, es frecuente. La asociación de ambas (IU e IA) no es infrecuente. La edad, el sobrepeso y el mayor número de partos vaginales se asocian con la presencia de disfunción anal y/o urinaria.