Double incontinence in urogynecologic practice: a new insight.
OBJECTIVE
This study was undertaken to evaluate the prevalence of anal incontinence in an urogynecologic setting and to investigate the relationship between lower urinary tract dysfunction and anal incontinence.


METHODS
The study included 504 women referred to our urogynecologic outpatient clinic who were prospectively investigated and asked specific questions on anal incontinence. Clinical and instrumental data were compared between women with urinary incontinence and with double incontinence, with further analysis for subgroups in the anal incontinent group of women (passive/urge). For continuous variables, the Wilcoxon rank sum test was used, and the Fisher exact test was applied to dicotomic variables. Logistic regression was used for categorical data. A level of P<.005 was considered significant.


RESULTS
Of the investigated women, 20.2% were also anally incontinent. Women with double incontinence showed higher scores for urinary urgency (P=.010), which reached the established level of significance only in the subgroup with urge anal incontinence (P=.003). In this group, a higher prevalence of detrusor overactivity was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Anal incontinence is highly prevalent among women with lower urinary tract disorders. The existence of subgroups of patients having different kinds of anal and urinary disorders should be taken into consideration both for research purposes and for new treatment perspectives.
Soligo
Marco
M
Department of Gynecological Surgery, University of Milan, Bicocca-Bassini Hospital, Italy. marcosoligo@libero.it
Salvatore
Stefano
S
Milani
Rodolfo
R
Lalia
Micaela
M
Malberti
Silvia
S
Digesu
Giuseppe A
GA
Mariani
Silvia
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D001745:Urinary Bladder Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014563:Urodynamics; D014570:Urologic Diseases / Q000150:complications