ABSTRACT
Background: Fecal and urinary incontinence (FI and UI) are psychologically and socially debilitating and embarrassing conditions. Aim: To determine the prevalence of FI and associated factors in patients assessed in health centers (HC) and nursing home (NH) residents. Material and Methods: Prospective, multicentric survey carried out in 3 HC and 16 NH of Santiago. Patients and residents of NH were interrogated about FI between March and July 2004. Results: The questionnaire was answered by 618 patients attending health centers aged 18 to 87 years (75 percent females) and 128 nursing home residents aged 40 to 103 years (80 percent females). The prevalence of liquid or solid FI in HC and NH was 2.7 and 45 percent, respectively. Among the latter, the incontinence for liquids and solids was 19 percent and 42 percent, respectively. The prevalence of UI was 30.1 and 62.7 percent in HC patients and NH residents, respectively. Among patients attending HC, multivariable analysis showed a relation between older age and urinary incontinence with liquid or solid FI Among NH residents, multivariate analysis showed a relation between urinary incontinence and motor disabilities with liquid or solid FI Conclusions: The prevalence of liquid or solid FI among patients assessed in health center is 2.7 percent. This figure increases in older people, those with UI and in NH residents.