Enuresis and overactive bladder in children: what is the relationship between these two conditions?

Int Braz J Urol. 2016 Jul-Aug;42(4):798-802. doi: 10.1590/S1677-5538.IBJU.2015.0579.

Abstract

Objective: Evaluate clinical aspects associated with the presence of nocturnal enuresis (NE) in children with a diagnosis of overactive bladder (OAB).

Material and methods: A data base of 200 children who were evaluated by a structured questionnaire was analysed retrospectively . OAB was defined as the presence of urinary urgency (n=183 cases) and/or daytime urinary incontinence associated with holding maneuvers (n=168 cases). Inclusion criteria were a confirmed diagnosis of OAB, age 5-16 years, and no anatomical or neurological alterations of the urinary tract. Patients were divided into enuretics and non-enuretics. The two groups were compared with respect to sex, age, skin color, presence urinary infection, urgency, urge incontinence, non-urge incontinence, pollakiuria, urinary dysfunction, nocturia, holding maneuvers, number of episodes of enuresis and bowel alterations. In a univariate analysis, the chi-square test was used to compare proportions, with p-values <0.05 being considered significant. A multivariate analysis was conducted to identify independent predictive factors.

Results: Enuresis was diagnosed in 141/200 children. The two groups were similar with respect to sex, age and skin color. No difference was found in relation to urinary infection, non-urge incontinence, urinary dysfunction, nocturia, encopresis or constipation. The two groups were significantly different with regard to some symptoms related to OAB such as urgency (p=0.001), urge incontinency (p=0.001) and holding maneuvers (p=0.033). Following multivariate analysis, only holding maneuvers (p=0.022) remained as an independent predictive factor.

Conclusion: The only independent predictive factor for resolution of enuresis in children with OAB, as detected in the multivariate analysis, was holding maneuvers.

Keywords: Enuresis; Urinary Bladder; Urinary Incontinence.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Diurnal Enuresis / diagnosis
  • Diurnal Enuresis / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Nocturnal Enuresis / diagnosis*
  • Nocturnal Enuresis / epidemiology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Urinary Bladder, Overactive / diagnosis*
  • Urinary Bladder, Overactive / epidemiology
  • Urinary Incontinence / diagnosis
  • Urinary Incontinence / epidemiology