Prevalence of Urinary Incontinence and Its Association With Neurodevelopmental Disorders Among Children in Japan.

AIM: To investigate urinary incontinence prevalence and its association with neurodevelopmental disorders among children in Japan.

METHODS

A web-based survey was conducted on children aged 5-15 years in Japan. Information on daytime and nocturnal incontinence and neurodevelopmental disorders, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and intellectual disability, was collected.

RESULTS

Responses from 5186 questionnaires (2619 boys, 2517 girls) were evaluated. In total, 505 children had neurodevelopmental disorders. Furthermore, 148 children had daytime urinary incontinence. The incidence of daytime urinary incontinence did not differ significantly according to sex. Daytime urinary incontinence was associated with neurodevelopmental disorders in 33.1% of children. Moreover, 220 children had nocturnal enuresis. Boys had a significantly higher prevalence of nocturnal enuresis than girls in the overall cohort and early elementary school age group. Nocturnal enuresis was associated with neurodevelopmental disorders in 29.1% of children. Children with daytime urinary incontinence or nocturnal enuresis had a significantly higher incidence of neurodevelopmental disorders.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of concomitant daytime and nocturnal urinary incontinence and neurodevelopmental disorders in children is significant.