Prevalence and risk factors of lower urinary tract symptoms in rural children and adolescents / 现代泌尿外科杂志

ABSTRACT

【Objective】 To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in rural children and adolescents. 【Methods】 An epidemiological LUTS survey was carried out on 4 100 children and adolescents (aged 6-16 years) in five primary and secondary schools in rural Henan by means of stratified random cluster sampling using anonymous questionnaires. Daytime urinary incontinence (DUI), nocturnal enuresis (NE), and postnatal diaper use and toilet training were investigated. 【Results】 A total of 3 885 valid questionnaires were recovered (with a recovery rate of 94.76%). The total prevalence of the four symptoms of LUTS, including urgency, frequency, DUI and NE, were 16.42%, 10.91%, 7.41% and 7.95%, respectively. As much as 21.13% subjects had at least one symptom. The prevalence of the four symptoms decreased gradually with age, decreased sharply in those aged 6 to 12 years, and then decreased slowly. The prevalence of LUTS in children who stopped using diapers and stared urine training after 1 year of age was significantly higher than that of those within 1 year of age (χ2=21.605, 23.111, 24.189, 23.509, all P<0.05; χ2=102.17, 72.168, 53.656, 197.76, all P<0.05). There were significant differences in the prevalence of LUTS between those with and without toilet training (χ2=315.273, 198.438, 105.723, 272.502, all P<0.05). The prevalence of LUTS in males was significantly higher than that in females (P<0.05). Constipation, prepuce and phimosis in boys were significantly associated with the prevalence of LUTS (P<0.05). 【Conclusion】 Rural children and adolescents have a high prevalence of LUTS. Diaper use after 1 year of age, history of urinary tract infection (UTI), lack of toilet training, constipation, and abnormal prepuce are risk factors of LUTS. Urine training before 1 year of age is a protective factor of LUTS.