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. 2010 May;202(5):493.e1-6.
doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2010.01.018. Epub 2010 Mar 12.

Fecal incontinence in primary care: prevalence, diagnosis, and health care utilization

Gena C Dunivan  1 , Steve Heymen, Olafur S Palsson, Michael von Korff, Marsha J Turner, Jennifer L Melville, William E Whitehead
Affiliations

Fecal incontinence in primary care: prevalence, diagnosis, and health care utilization

Gena C Dunivan et al. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2010 May.

Abstract

Objective: We sought to estimate the frequency of self-reported fecal incontinence (FI), identify what proportion of these patients have a diagnosis of FI in their medical record, and compare health care costs and utilization in patients with different severities of FI to those without FI.

Study design: Patients in a health maintenance organization were eligible and 1707 completed a survey. Patients with self-reported FI were assessed for a diagnosis of FI in their medical record for the last 5 years. Health care costs and utilization were obtained from claims data.

Results: FI was reported by 36.2% of primary care patients, but only 2.7% of patients with FI had a medical diagnosis. FI adversely affected quality of life and severe FI was associated with 55% higher health care costs (including 77% higher gastrointestinal-related health care costs) compared to continent patients.

Conclusion: Increased screening of FI is needed.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Primary care patients who reported fecal incontinence (FI) in the past month. Only a small fraction (2.7%) of FI patients had a medical (MD) diagnosis. Excluded from analysis were 50 with FI and 138 without FI who refused permission to review their medical records.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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