Abstract General Information

Title

SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT-RESPONSE TO THE ENURESIS ALARM IN ADULTS

Introduction and objective

Little is known about enuresis in adults despite an estimated prevalence of 1%. The stigma surrounding the condition makes this population difficult to study. If those afflicted find the time and courage to seek care, they are faced with healthcare workers who lack knowledge to treat them. The company Pjama® now provides an enuresis alarm with an app that collects anonymized baseline information as well as data during treatment. This way, previously elusive data can be assessed.

The objective of this study was to explore characteristics of adult enuresis, while assessing response and predictive factors to the enuresis alarm in this poorly studied group.

Method

Data were continuously collected from subjects across Europe who bought the enuresis alarm and downloaded the app independently or as recommended by healthcare personnel. Baseline information and continuously collected data include among others gender, age, wet night frequency at baseline and after treatment, daytime incontinence, previous treatment attempts, and adherence to treatment. Data from adults were put together. Treatment response was categorized according to ICCS guidelines.

Results

So far, 121 adults have been assessed, a subset from 1882 subjects. The adult ages spanned from 18 to 78 years (mean 29.6 ± 11.5). 67% were male. The enuresis was primary in 45% and concomitant daytime incontinence was present in 41%. Prior alarm, desmopressin and anticholinergic treatment had been tried in 29%, 27% and 8% of cases, respectively. Baseline enuresis frequency was 4.9 ± 2 per week. A large majority, 87%, of patients were unable to complete a full 6-8 weeks of therapy. Among the 16 who completed treatment 3, 2 and 11 were complete, intermediate and nonresponders, respectively. The only baseline factor with predictive value was primary enuresis which predicted nonresponse (p = 0.015).

Conclusion

This is a unique sample of a large number of adult patients with enuresis. The known male overrepresentation in children persists in adulthood. Half of adult cases of enuresis are secondary, a factor that predicted successful alarm treatment. Dropouts were substantial but preliminary results show that adults with enuresis respond less than half as well as children to alarm.