Author overestimated need in community population with faecal incontinence

BMJ 1998;317:415 ( 8 August )

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Author overestimated need in community population with faecal incontinence

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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 misplacedfor several reasons.

Kamm states that the prevalence of faecal incontinence is 2% in the adult population and 7% in healthy independent adultsaged over 65. These figures probably relate to anal incontinence(loss of gas or mucous as well as solid or liquid faeces) ratherthan just faecal incontinence and to episodic rather than frequent(daily or weekly) incontinence.² These figures may thereforeoverestimate the level of need in a community population. Theliterature suggests that faecal incontinence occurs on a weeklyto monthly basis in less than 1% of the population aged under65. ² ³ Faecal incontinence, however, is closely associatedwith age (prevalence about 15% in adults aged $>=$ 85 living . . . [Full text of this article]

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Fortnightly review : Faecal incontinence: Michael A Kamm
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