485 / 492
15:54 - 15:58
ICCS S6-5
(SO)
INCONTINENCE IN PERSONS WITH DOWN SYNDROME
Justine NIEMCZYK, David MEDOFF, Catharina WAGNER, Monika EQUIT and Alexander VON GONTARD
Saarland University Hospital, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Homburg, GERMANY
PURPOSE
Down Syndrome (DS), characterized by typical facial features and a physical growth delay, is caused by the presence of
partial or complete triplication (trisomy) of chromosome 21. It is the most common genetic cause for intellectual
disability, which is in the mild and moderate range. The aim of this study was to assess the rates of incontinence and
associated psychological problems in persons with DS.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
122 children (4-18 years) and 160 adults (18-51 years) with DS 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 (ICIQ-CLUTS), as well as the Developmental Behavior Checklist
for parents (DBC-P) or for adults (DBC-A) were filled out by parents or care-givers.
RESULTS
17.2% of the sample had nocturnal enuresis (NE), 15.9% had daytime urinary incontinence (DUI) and 14.2% had fecal
incontinence (FI). Incontinence was present in 64.0% of young children (4-12 years), 10.3% of teens (13-17y), 12.8%
of young adults (18-30y) and in 22.4% of older adults (>30y). 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 NE/DUI and clinical DBC score in adults.
CONCLUSIONS
Incontinence in DS is mainly present in young children, but adults are affected, as well. Behavioral comorbidity is
associated with incontinence only in adults with DS. Screening and treatment of incontinence in children with DS is
recommended.