title: Incontinence in persons with Down Syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the rates of incontinence and associated psychological problems in children, adolescents and adults with Down Syndrome, a genetic syndrome caused by partial or complete triplication (trisomy) of chromosome 21 and characterized by typical facial features, a physical growth delay and mild or moderate intellectual disability.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred and seventeen persons with Down Syndrome (4-51 years) were recruited through a German parent support group (59.6% male, mean age 19.2 years). The Parental Questionnaire: Enuresis/Urinary Incontinence, the Incontinence Questionnaire-Pediatric Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms, as well as the Developmental Behavior Checklist (DBC) for parents or for adults were filled out by parents or care-givers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  17.2% of the sample had nocturnal enuresis, 15.9% had daytime urinary incontinence, and 14.2% had fecal incontinence. Incontinence was present in 64.0% of young children (4-12 years), 10.3% of teens (13-17 years), 12.8% of young adults (18-30 years) and in 22.4% of older adults (>30 years). 13.6% of children and 8.4% of adults had a DBC score in the clinical range. 19.5% of children and 27.8% of adults with incontinence had behavioral problems. There was a significant association between nocturnal enuresis, daytime urinary incontinence and clinical DBC scores in adults.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Incontinence in Down Syndrome is mainly present in young children and increases in older adults. Behavioral comorbidity is associated with incontinence only in adults with Down Syndrome. Screening and treatment of incontinence in individuals with Down Syndrome is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Saarland University Hospital, Homburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Justine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Niemczyk
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Saarland University Hospital, Homburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: von Gontard
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Saarland University, Saarbruecken, Germany.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Equit
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Saarland University Hospital, Homburg, Germany.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Medoff
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Saarland University Hospital, Homburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Catharina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Genetics, Governor Kremers Centre, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Leopold
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Curfs
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D057189:Checklist; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D053207:Diurnal Enuresis / Q000150:complications*; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053206:Nocturnal Enuresis / Q000150:complications*; D010290:Parents; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Down Syndrome; enuresis; fecal incontinence; psychopathology; urinary incontinence