title: Factors associated with low and high voiding frequency in children with diurnal urinary incontinence.
abstract: METHODS
  Prognosis (cohort).
  
  
  METHODS
  2a.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate, in a population-based study, the association of urinary voiding frequency and daytime wetting or diurnal urinary incontinence (UI) in children aged 6.5 years, to test the hypothesis that children with high or low voiding frequency have increased somatic and psychological risks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were a cohort of > 8000 children enrolled in the population-based Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, a prospective longitudinal study of an original birth cohort of nearly 14,000 children. Parents completed postal questionnaires asking about diurnal UI, voiding frequency and associated somatic and behavioural signs and symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all, 10.4% of children had diurnal UI. Children with diurnal UI had significantly more gastrointestinal, urinary and psychological symptoms than the controls. Of the children with diurnal UI, 35.7% had a voiding frequency of < 5 voids/day, 61.5% 5-9 voids/day and 2.8% > or = 10 voids/day. High voiding frequency was more common in boys, children with frequent diurnal UI and those with combined diurnal and night-time UI, and also in children with nocturia, urgency, hyperactivity and conduct problems. Children with a low voiding frequency needed to be reminded to go to the toilet more often. Fecal incontinence, constipation, stomach 'aches', 'choosy' eating and urinary tract infections were not associated with voiding frequency.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Voiding frequency is an important symptom in children with diurnal UI. The children with high voiding frequencies are especially at risk for associated somatic and behavioural problems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Saarland University Hospital, Homburg, Germany. alexander.von.gontard@uniklinik-saarland.de
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: von Gontard
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heron
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Joinson
mesh_terms: D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000150:complications; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D053207:Diurnal Enuresis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014554:Urination / Q000502:physiology*