Voiding dysfunctions in children with mental retardation.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to evaluate the voiding disorder and lower urinary tract symptoms in mentally retarded children.


METHODS
Fifty-one mentally retarded children (age 7.7 years) was assessed. A volunteer sample comprised of 36 typically developing children (age 6.4 years) served as the comparative group. All participants underwent uroflometric investigation, and residual urine was detected by sonography. Urological history including history of urinary tract infection, incontinence, frequency, and dysurea was collected. In addition, the mentally retarded group was classified according to IQ: severe mentally retarded group (IQ below 40) (n = 11), moderate mentally retarded group (IQ: 41 to 55) (n = 19), mild mentally retarded group (IQ: 56 to 70) (n = 21). Group comparisons were analyzed using Chi-square and Student's t-test.


RESULTS
Of the 51 mentally retarded children, 18(35.2%) were found to have voiding dysfunction, which is significantly higher than the control group (8.3%). The incidence of urine incontinence and frequency is also significantly higher in the mentally retarded group. The comparison of the three mentally retarded subgroups showed that the severe mentally retarded group had the highest incidence of voiding dysfunction and urinary incontinence. Overall, the mentally retarded group had higher percentage of small bladder capacity.


CONCLUSIONS
We concluded that mentally retarded children have a higher incidence of voiding dysfunction and incontinence than the control group. Early detection of voiding dysfunction in an objective, non-invasive manner is important in mentally retarded children, particularly those with severe cognitive impairment.
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
Pei-Yu
PY
Yang
Nai-Hsin
NH
Meng
Eric Chieh-lung
EC
Chou
D000293:Adolescent; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D014463:Ultrasonography; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014563:Urodynamics