Psychosocial comorbidities and obesity are associated with lower urinary tract symptoms in children with voiding dysfunction

Janine L. Oliver, Mary J. Campigotto, Douglas E. Coplen, Erica J. Traxel, Paul F. Austin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

33 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose There is emerging awareness of comorbid psychosocial characteristics in children with lower urinary tract dysfunction. To explore the prevalence of these comorbidities and their relationship to lower urinary tract symptoms, we examined the psychosocial comorbidities and body mass index of children with lower urinary tract dysfunction. Materials and Methods We prospectively collected data on all new patients 6 to 17 years old with nonneurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction who presented to a single nurse practitioner in 2011. Parents completed a 21-question lower urinary tract symptom score based on a validated questionnaire and a psychosocial questionnaire that screened for stressful life events and psychological diagnoses. We examined the correlation of body mass index percentile and psychosocial comorbidities with lower urinary tract symptom score. Results Of the 358 patients 28.5% were obese, 31.8% had a recent life stressor and 22.9% had a comorbid psychiatric disorder. Younger age correlated with a higher lower urinary tract symptom score (r = -0.34, p <0.0001). Children with a recent life stressor (p = 0.049), psychiatric disorder (p = 0.0026) or the 2 comorbidities (p = 0.039) had a significantly higher lower urinary tract symptom score than children without comorbidities. Underweight and obese children had a significantly higher lower urinary tract symptom score than healthy weight and overweight children (p = 0.009). Conclusions Almost a third of the patients in our study were obese. More than 40% of the children had a psychiatric disorder and/or recent life stressor. Younger age, an underweight or obese body mass index and a recent stressful life event or psychiatric disorder correlated with a higher lower urinary tract symptom score. This study supports previous recommendations to screen for psychosocial comorbidities and obesity during the evaluation of pediatric lower urinary tract dysfunction.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1511-1515
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Urology
Volume190
Issue number4 SUPPL
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2013

Keywords

  • mass index
  • psychosocial deprivation
  • stress psychological
  • urinary tract
  • urination disorders body

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