Quality of life in neurologically healthy children with urinary incontinence.
OBJECTIVE
To bring forward the arguments for active treatment of urine incontinence in otherwise healthy children, a quality-of-life (QoL) study was performed.


METHODS
A self-rating QoL questionnaire, child-adjusted and validated, was completed by 120 neurologically healthy children, aged 6-16 y, with urinary incontinence. Another 239 age-matched children made up a control group. The two groups were compared both totally and in age-related subgroups (6-8, 9-12, >12 y) concerning the index for all questions, for universal parts (without questions dealing with incontinence) as well as for specific key domains.


RESULTS
The patient group had a significantly lower index than the control group both with and without items related to incontinence (p<0.0001). Social situation, self-esteem and self-confidence were most influenced, particularly in the youngest children. Thirty-one children (13%) of the control group reported incontinence and did not score their QoL as good as their continent peers but better than the study patients.


CONCLUSIONS
From the quality-of-life aspects, the study supports active treatment of urinary incontinence in children already at younger ages.
Gladh
Gunilla
G
Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Division of Paediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Linköping, Linköping, Sweden. gunilla.glad@Lio.se
Eldh
Monica
M
Mattsson
Sven
S
D000293:Adolescent; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000523:psychology*