Research Article
Fecal Incontinence: Prevalence, Severity, and Quality of Life Data from an Outpatient Gastroenterology Practice
Table 1
Patient Characteristics.
| Patients, | 58 | Female gender, (%) | 42 (74) | Patient age, years (range) | 45 (22–84) | Onset age, years (range) | 49 (17–80) |
| Education level, % | | Less than high school | 9.3 | High school | 51.8 | Attended college or greater | 38.9 |
| Patients with risk factors for FI, n (%) | 72 | Hemorrhoids | 21 (36.0) | Hysterectomya | 12 (29.0) | Irritable bowel syndrome | 10 (17.0) | Episiotomiesa | 7 (17.0) | Forceps deliveriesa | 7 (17.0) | Diabetes | 9 (15.5) | Inflammatory bowel disease | 3 (5.0) | Anorectal surgery | 3 (5.0) | Spinal surgery | 3 (5.0) | Rectal Prolapse | 2 (3.4) | Anal fissures | 2 (3.4) | Scleroderma | 2 (3.4) | Radiation therapy (abdomen, pelvis) | 2 (3.4) | Rectal/vaginal surgerya | 1(2.4) | Pelvic or rectal cancer | 1(1.7) |
| Daily incontinence, % | | Solid | 17 | Liquid/mucous | 25 |
| Reason for visit, n (%) | | Upper GI complaints | 13 (22.0) | Lower GI complaints | 36 (62.0) | Liver | 5 (8.6) | Anemia | 2 (3.4) | FI | 2 (3.4) |
| Duration, (%) | | Less than 5 years, (%) | 49 (84.5) | Greater than 5 years, (%) | 9 (15.5) |
| Use of pads, (%) | 20 (34) | Use of diapers, (%) | 8 (14) |
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aAssessed for women only; percentage represents % of women only
*Percents do not summate to 100% as many patients reported overlapping comorbidities.
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