title: Fecal incontinence in elderly Koreans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence and correlates of fecal incontinence (FI) and its effect on quality of life in ambulatory elderly people in Korea.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional, convenience sample-based survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-seven senior citizen centers and two health clinics in two cities of Korea.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine hundred eighty-one relatively healthy and ambulatory community-dwelling people aged 60 and older.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected through in-person interviews with a structured questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine independent risk factors for FI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of FI was 15.5%. FI was significantly associated with lower quality of life (Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form Survey) for physical and mental health. In men, FI was significantly associated with urinary incontinence (odds ratio (OR)=4.89, 95% confidence interval (CI)=2.45-9.77), hemorrhoids (OR=4.66, 95% CI=1.67-12.97), and poor self-perceived health status (P for trend=.02). In women, FI was associated with urinary incontinence (OR=2.91, 95% CI=1.76-4.81), diabetes mellitus (OR=2.04, 95% CI=1.24-3.37), hemorrhoids (OR=2.99, 95% CI=1.31-6.83), and infrequent dietary fiber intake (P for trend=.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FI is prevalent in elderly Koreans and has a profound effect on quality of life. Physicians should closely screen for FI in elderly patients with certain risk factors and evaluate to control these potentially preventable or modifiable factors.
authors.affiliation: Family Medicine, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hee-Kyung
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Joh
authors.forename: Moo-Kyung
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Seong
authors.forename: Seung-Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Oh
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors