Letter

Author overestimated need in community population with faecal incontinence

BMJ 1998; 317 doi: 10.1136/bmj.317.7155.415 (Published 8 August 1998)
Cite this as: BMJ 1998;317:415.1

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  1. Sarah Perry, Research associate,
  2. R Philip Assassa, Clinical research fellow,
  3. Kate Williams, Research fellow in nursing,
  4. Nigel K G Smith, Senior clinical research fellow,
  5. C Mark Castleden, Professor of elderly medicine, Leicester,
  6. Leicester MRC Incontinence Study
  1. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 6TP

    EDITOR—In his review on advances in the understanding of faecal incontinence Kamm focused on structural damage as an aetiological factor and surgical intervention as a treatment.1 A review of epidemiological evidence suggests that this focus is misplaced for several reasons.

    Kamm states that the prevalence of faecal incontinence is 2% in the adult population and 7% in healthy independent adults aged over 65. These figures probably relate to anal incontinence (loss of gas or mucous as well as …

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