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Fecal Incontinence: Prevalence, Severity, and Quality of Life Data from an Outpatient Gastroenterology Practice
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Fecal Incontinence: Prevalence, Severity, and Quality of Life Data from an Outpatient Gastroenterology Practice

Eva H. Alsheik, Thomas Coyne, Sara K. Hawes, Laleh Merikhi, Scott P. Naples, Nandhakumar Kanagarajan, James C. Reynolds, Scott E. Myers and Asyia S. Ahmad
Gastroenterology research and practice, v 2012, pp 947694-7
25 Sep 2011
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/947694
PMID: 21960998
Featured in Collection :   UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
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https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/947694View
Published, Version of Record (VoR)CC BY V4.0,  Open

Abstract

Background . The prevalence of fecal incontinence varies tremendously as a result of inadequate data collection methods. Few office-based studies have assessed the prevalence of fecal incontinence and none have looked at modifiable risk factors or effect on quality of life. Design, Settings, Patients, and Main Outcome Measures . Five hundred patients who visited our inner city, university-based gastroenterology practice, were asked about symptoms of fecal incontinence. We also retrospectively reviewed 500 charts to identify the frequency of patient-physician reporting of fecal incontinence. Results . Of the 500 patients that were directly questioned, 58 (12%, 43 women, 15 men) admitted to fecal incontinence compared to 12 (2.4%) in the retrospective arm. Patients with fecal incontinence and loose/watery stool reported the lowest quality of life scores. While the average severity score was similar between men and women, women had a significantly lower average quality of life score (3.04 versus 2.51; P < 0.03). Conclusions . The identification of fecal incontinence increases when patients are directly questioned. Identifying and treating patients with loose stool is a potential strategy to improve quality of life in this patient population. In men and women with similar severity of fecal incontinence, women have a significantly lower quality of life.

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31 citations in Web of Science
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Web of Science research areas
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
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