A multicenter study on childhood constipation and fecal incontinence: effects on quality of life

The impact of bowel and bladder problems on children's quality of life and their parents: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

Functional bladder and bowel problems are common in children and have a serious psychological as well as physical impact. The objective of this scoping review was to synthesise evidence on the impact of such conditions both on children's quality of life (QOL) and their parents.

METHODS

The scoping review followed Arksey and O'Malley's framework. Relevant studies were identified by a comprehensive search of scientific databases. Inclusion criteria focused on children with bladder and bowel dysfunction, their QOL, and impact on parents. Studies were analysed for aims, study populations, measures, and results.

RESULTS

A total of 783 records were retrieved with 30 meeting the criteria. Most studies found that QOL was reduced in children with nocturnal enuresis, day bladder dysfunction, bowel dysfunction, and combined bladder and bowel dysfunction. Parents' QOL and social-emotional functioning were also negatively affected.

CONCLUSIONS

Functional bladder and bowel problems should be identified and treated as early as possible to minimise negative impacts on QOL of children and their carers. Future research should focus on how to best provide early and effective intervention in the most accessible manner.

The problem of defecation disorders in children is underestimated and easily goes unrecognized: a cross-sectional study

We aimed to study constipation and fecal incontinence in terms of prevalence, recognizing the disorders, help-seeking behavior, and associated symptoms. In this cross-sectional study, 240 children (8 to 18 years) from the general Dutch population completed a questionnaire about defecation disorders. After exclusions for anorectal/pelvic surgery or comorbidities, we analyzed 212 children. The prevalence of constipation was 15.6%; in a quarter of the cases, it co-occurred with fecal incontinence. We found 3% fecal incontinence without constipation. Even though children with a defecation disorder rated their bowel habits worse compared to children without defecation disorders (P < 0.001), 46% constipated children and 67% fecally incontinent children rated their bowel habits as good or very good. Moreover, 21 to 50% of children with a defecation disorder did not mention their symptoms to anybody. Interestingly, most constipated children had "normal" stool frequencies (64%) and consistencies (49%).Conclusion: The prevalence of constipation and fecal incontinence is quite high in children. Stool frequency and consistency is normal in half the constipated children, which may complicate the recognition of constipation. Finally, a considerable number of children does not recognize their disorders as constituting a problem and does not seek help, which leads to an underestimation of these disorders. What is Known: • Constipation and fecal incontinence are common in children, but their prevalence rates may be underestimated due to a variety of reasons. • Diagnosing these disorders remains challenging owing to the variety of symptoms and co-existence with other diseases. What is New: • The prevalence of constipation and fecal incontinence in children is high. • Many children do not recognize their defecation disorders as constituting a problem and do not seek help, which leads to an underestimation of the problem of these disorders.

Parent-child Agreement on Health-Related Quality of Life in Children With Functional Constipation in Primary Care

OBJECTIVE

Functional constipation (FC) has a major impact on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of children. The aim of this study was to evaluate parent-child agreement on HRQoL in children (8-17 years) with FC in primary care.

METHODS

Children diagnosed with FC by their clinician were eligible. HRQoL was measured with the Defecation Disorder List (DDL, score 0-100), and the EuroQol-5-Dimension-Youth Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-5D-Y-VAS, scale 0-100). Parent-child agreement was examined with discrepancy scores, intraclass correlation coefficients and Bland-Altman plots.

RESULTS

Fifty-six children, median age of 10 years (IQR 8-12) and their parents were included. Parent-child agreement at a group level was good, with an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.80 (95% confidence interval 0.67 to 0.88) for the DDL, and 0.78 (95% confidence interval 0.65 to 0.87) for the EQ-5D-Y-VAS. Mean discrepancy scores for the DDL and EQ-5D-Y-VAS were small: -2.6 and -2.9, implying that parents were slightly more positive about the HRQoL than their children. Bland-Altman plots showed considerable discordance between individual parent-child pairs. Limits of agreement were -19.7 and 14.6 for the DDL and -27.6 and 21.8 for the EQ-5D-Y-VAS.

CONCLUSIONS

There is good parent-child agreement on HRQoL in children with FC at group level. However, a substantial number of parent-child pairs differed considerably on their rating of the HRQoL of the child. Therefore, we recommend clinicians, if they want to have an impression of the impact of the FC on the HRQoL of the child, to ask both the child and the parent(s).

Infant Feeding Practices and the Effect in Reducing Functional Constipation 6 Years Later: A Randomized Field Trial

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to assess the impact of health worker training on infant feeding practices on the prevalence of functional constipation (FC) among children at 6 years of age.

METHODS

Cluster randomized field trial conducted in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Health centers were randomly allocated into intervention (n = 9) or control (n = 11) groups. In intervention sites, health workers joined training sessions on the "Ten Steps for Healthy Feeding for Children from Birth to Two Years of age". Pregnant women in the last trimester of both groups were identified, invited to participate and enrolled in the study as the potential mothers to receive the dietary counseling provided by the health workers. At 6 years of age, the prevalence of FC was evaluated based on Rome III, defined by 2 or more of the following: infrequent defecation, fecal incontinence, history of retentive posturing, or/and history of painful defecation.

RESULTS

Among 387 mother-child pairs (206 intervention, 181 control) evaluated at 6 years of age, the prevalence of FC was lower in the intervention group compared with the control group (15.0% vs 23.9%, respectively). The probability of being constipated was 38% lower in the intervention group (PR = 0.62; 95% CI 0.44-0.87; P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The health workers training to promote the "Ten Steps" was an effective way to reduce the prevalence of constipation among children at 6 years of age.

Bladder Symptoms in Children With Functional Constipation: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the review is to perform a systematic review of the literature examining the prevalence of bladder symptoms in children with functional constipation (FC) and to compare the prevalence of those symptoms between children with and without FC.

METHODS

In this systematic review 4 databases were searched to July 2018. Studies investigating the prevalence of bladder symptoms in children aged 4 to 17 years with FC were included. There was no language restriction. Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed study quality. Clinical heterogeneity between studies was investigated. Prevalence rates of bladder symptoms in children with FC were calculated. Relative risks were calculated to compare the prevalence of bladder symptoms between children with and without FC.

RESULTS

Among 23 studies of children with FC, 22 reported the prevalence bladder symptoms (12,281 children) and 7 reported the prevalence of urinary tract infections (UTIs) (687 children). The prevalence rates of single bladder symptoms, lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), and UTI varied between 2% to 47%, 37% to 64%, and 6% to 53%. The relative risks were 1.24 to 6.73 for 20 single bladder symptoms (12 studies) and 2.18 to 6.55 for UTI (2 studies). The 95% confidence intervals indicated significance in 14 of 20 single bladder symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Bladder symptoms seem common in children with FC, but the reported prevalence varies greatly. Children with FC are more likely to have bladder symptoms than children without FC. We recommend that clinicians be aware of concomitant bladder symptoms in children presenting with FC.

Children who soil: A review of the assessment and management of faecal incontinence

Soiling is a common and distressing condition affecting children. In the vast majority of patients, it is associated with constipation. Most constipation is functional and is best thought of as difficulty achieving adequate bowel emptying. In a small minority of patients, there is no associated constipation, so-called non-retentive faecal incontinence. The aetiology of this latter condition in children remains unclear. The mainstay of management in all cases is a regular toileting programme, together with laxatives as required. This must be individualised considering the diagnosis, the age of the child and the psychosocial factors affecting the child and family. The diagnosis is made with a thorough history and examination, supplemented in some cases with targeted investigations. Engaging the child and family in a long-term treatment programme (at least 6 months to 2 years) is essential for treatment success. The following clinical practice guideline and algorithm for the assessment and management of children who soil represents consensus opinion using available evidence.

Malone appendicostomy versus cecostomy tube insertion for children with intractable constipation: A systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Children with intractable constipation are often treated with antegrade continence enemas. This requires the creation of a Malone appendicostomy in the operating room or insertion of a cecostomy tube using endoscopic, radiologic, or surgical techniques. The purpose of this study was to assess the evidence regarding these procedures.

METHODS

We conducted a search of Embase, Medline, CINAHL, and Web of Science up to October 2016. We included comparative studies of children treated with Malone appendicostomy or cecostomy tube insertion. Two reviewers screened abstracts, reviewed studies, and extracted data.

RESULTS

We identified 166 children from three retrospective studies who underwent Malone appendicostomy (n=82) or cecostomy tube insertion (n=84). There were no differences in the number of patients who achieved continence (80% versus 70%, p=0.76), but the need for additional surgery was higher in children treated with Malone appendicostomy (30% versus 12%, p=0.01). Studies reported a variety of tube and stoma-related complications, but quality of life was not assessed using validated measures.

CONCLUSION

Malone appendicostomy and cecostomy tube insertion are comparable in terms of achieving continence. Children treated with Malone appendicostomy appear to be more likely to require additional surgery due to early or late complications.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic, 1c.

An Integrated Nurse Practitioner-Run Subspecialty Referral Program for Incontinent Children

INTRODUCTION

Evidence suggests that urinary and fecal incontinence and abnormal voiding and defecation dynamics are different manifestations of the same syndrome. This article reports the success of an innovative program for care of children with incontinence and dysfunctional elimination. This program is innovative because it is the first to combine subspecialty services (urology, gastroenterology, and psychiatry) in a single point of care for this population and the first reported independent nurse practitioner-run specialty referral practice in a free-standing pediatric ambulatory subspecialty setting. Currently, services for affected children are siloed in the aforementioned subspecialties, fragmenting care.

METHODS

Retrospective data on financial, patient satisfaction, and patient referral base were compiled to assess this program.

RESULTS

Analysis indicates that this model is fiscally sound, has similar or higher patient satisfaction scores when measured against physician-run subspecialty clinics, and has an extensive geographic referral base in the absence of marketing.

DISCUSSION

This model has potential transformative significance: (a) the impact of children achieving continence cannot be underestimated, (b) configuration of services that cross traditional subspecialty boundaries may have broader application to other populations, and (c) demonstration of effectiveness of non-physician provider reconfiguration of health care delivery in subspecialty practice may extend to the care of other populations.

Early childhood risk factors for constipation and soiling at school age: an observational cohort study

OBJECTIVE

Constipation and soiling are common in childhood. This study examines the comorbidity between childhood constipation and soiling and early childhood risk factors for these problems.

DESIGN

The sample comprised 8435 participants from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children with maternally reported measures of constipation (six time points between 4 and 10 years) and soiling (five time points between 4 and 9 years). We used latent class analysis to extract longitudinal patterns of constipation and soiling. We examined whether the latent classes are differentially associated with maternally reported risk factors in early childhood (stool consistency, breast feeding, socioeconomic background, gestation, birth weight, developmental level and age at initiation of toilet training) using multinomial logistic regression models.

RESULTS

We extracted four latent classes: 'normative' (74.5%: very low probability of constipation or soiling), 'constipation alone' (13.2%), 'soiling alone' (7.5%) and 'constipation with soiling' (4.8%). Hard stools at 2½ years were associated with increased odds of constipation alone. Developmental delay at 18 months was associated soiling alone and constipation with soiling, but not constipation alone. We found limited evidence of associations with socioeconomic background and no evidence of associations with age at initiation of toilet training, breast feeding, gestational age or birth weight.

CONCLUSION

Constipation alone was the most prevalent pattern in this cohort. Treatment for hard stools in early childhood is needed to prevent chronic constipation at school age. Constipation with soiling was less common than soiling alone. Further research is needed into the causes of non-retentive soiling.

Physical Therapy for Fecal Incontinence in Children with Pelvic Floor Dyssynergia

OBJECTIVES

To determine the efficacy of physical therapy (PT) for fecal incontinence in children with pelvic floor dyssynergia (PFD).

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective chart review of children with PFD completing >1 PT session for fecal incontinence at a quaternary children's hospital. The frequency of fecal incontinence (primary outcome), constipation-related medication use, number of bowel movements (in those with <3 per week at baseline) and pelvic floor muscle (PFM) function were captured at baseline and at the final PT visit. Outcomes were categorized as excellent (complete continence), good (>50% decrease in fecal incontinence frequency), fair (not worsening but <50% fecal incontinence frequency decrease), and poor (more frequent fecal incontinence). Compliance with PT was determined by the percentage of attended PT appointments.

RESULTS

Children included met the following primary outcomes: 27 (42.2%) excellent, 24 (37.5%) good, 11 (17.1%) fair, and 2 (3.1%) poor. Factors associated with an excellent or good outcome included improved PFM functioning and good (≥70% PT attendance) compliance. Children with a history of surgically corrected tethered spinal cord were more likely to have a fair outcome (P = .015). Use of constipation-related medications decreased (1.9 ± 0.7 vs 1.5 ± 0.9, P = .005). Weekly bowel movement frequency increased (1.6 ± 0.6 vs 6.4 ± 4.8, P < .001) in those with infrequent bowel movements (n = 26) at baseline.

CONCLUSIONS

Pelvic floor PT is effective in the majority of children with fecal incontinence related to PFD. Factors associated with PT efficacy include improved PFM functioning, good compliance with PT, and history of tethered cord.

Cost-effectiveness of sacral neuromodulation for chronic refractory constipation in children and adolescents: a Markov model analysis

AIM

This study aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of sacral neuromodulation (SNM) compared with conservative treatment in children and adolescents with constipation refractory to conservative management.

METHOD

A Markov probabilistic model was used, comparing costs and effectiveness of SNM and conservative treatment in children and adolescents aged 10-18 years with constipation refractory to conservative management. Input for the model regarding transition probabilities, utilities and healthcare costs was based on data from a cohort of patients treated in our centre. This cohort consisted of 30 female patients (mean age 16 years) with functional constipation refractory to conservative management. The mean duration of laxative use in this group was 5.9 years. All patients had a test SNM, followed by a permanent SNM in 27/30. Median follow-up was 22.1 months (range 12.2-36.8). The model was run to simulate a follow-up period of 3 years.

RESULTS

The mean cumulative costs for the SNM group and the conservative treatment group were €17 789 (SD €2492) and €7574 (SD €4332) per patient, respectively. The mean quality adjusted life years (QALYs) in the SNM group was 1.74 (SD 0.19), compared with 0.86 (SD 0.14) in the conservatively managed group. The mean incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was €12 328 per QALY (SD €4788). Sensitivity analysis showed that the outcomes were robust to a wide range of model assumptions.

CONCLUSION

Chronic constipation seriously affects the quality of life of children and adolescents. Preliminary evidence suggests that SNM can improve symptoms and quality of life at a reasonable cost.

Health-Related Quality of Life and Parental Stress in Children With Fecal Incontinence: A Normative Comparison

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present study was to describe the quality of life and parenting stress associated with a child with fecal incontinence (FI).

METHODS

Female caregivers (n = 170) of children of 3 to 12 years age with FI completed a broad and general measure of quality of life and a measure of parenting stress. Results were compared with proxy reports for a normative sample of healthy children.

RESULTS

Caregivers of children with FI reported significantly impaired quality of life for their children and increased parenting stress in all of the respective domains relative to healthy controls. Impairments reported by caregivers were large in magnitude. Similarly, rates of parenting stress were at or greater than the 98th percentile for caregivers of children with FI.

CONCLUSIONS

Children with fecal incontinence and their families are in need of interventions targeting their quality of life and the stress associated with caregiving. FI appears to be particularly stressful for caregivers who may be in need of support beyond medical management of their child's bowel. Moreover, additional refinements in disease-specific quality of life assessment are needed in this population. Such refinement would allow for more precise measurement of the quality of life processes that are unique to FI.

Childhood constipation as an emerging public health problem

Functional constipation (FC) is a significant health problem in children and contrary to common belief, has serious ramifications on the lives of children and their families. It is defined by the Rome criteria which encourage the use of multiple clinical features for diagnosis. FC in children has a high prevalence (0.7%-29%) worldwide, both in developed and developing countries. Biopsychosocial risk factors such as psychological stress, poor dietary habits, obesity and child maltreatment are commonly identified predisposing factors for FC. FC poses a significant healthcare burden on the already overstretched health budgets of many countries in terms of out-patient care, in-patient care, expenditure for investigations and prescriptions. Complications are common and range from minor psychological disturbances, to lower health-related quality of life. FC in children also has a significant impact on families. Many paediatric clinical trials have poor methodological quality, and drugs proved to be useful in adults, are not effective in relieving symptoms in children. A significant proportion of inadequately treated children have similar symptoms as adults. These factors show that constipation is an increasing public health problem across the world with a significant medical, social and economic impact. This article highlights the potential public health impact of FC and the possibility of overcoming this problem by concentrating on modifiable risk factors rather than expending resources on high cost investigations and therapeutic modalities.