Table 1.
Factors associated with FI at baseline
| Variable | Total n |
FI at baseline n (%) |
Univariate OR (95% CI) |
Adjusted OR (95% CI)a |
Multiple variable OR (95% CI)b |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (mean ± s.d.) | 67 ± 9 | 1.27 (1.09, 1.48)c | 1.35 (1.15, 1.58)c | 1.03 (1.01, 1.05)c | |
| Gender | |||||
| Male | 767 | 95 (12.4) | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| Female | 743 | 130 (17.5) | 1.50 (1.13, 2.00) | 1.47 (1.10, 2.01) | 1.47 (1.03, 2.10) |
| Usual bowel pattern (self-reported)# | |||||
| Normal | 1,069 | 97 (9.1) | 1.0 (ref) | 1.0 (ref) | 1.0 (ref) |
| Constipation | 224 | 34 (15.2) | 1.79 (1.18, 2.73) | 1.61 (1.05, 2.46) | 1.63 (0.98, 2.72) |
| Diarrhea | 162 | 71 (43.8) | 7.82 (5.38, 11.37) | 7.98 (5.46, 11.66) | 2.62 (1.55, 4.42) |
| Alternating | 49 | 23 (46.9) | 8.87 (4.87, 16.14) | 8.15 (4.45, 14.94) | 4.10 (1.89, 8.93) |
| Number of bowel movements | |||||
| < 3 Weekly | 52 | 6 (11.5) | 1.0 (ref) | 1.0 (ref) | 1.0 (ref) |
| 3 Weekly to 2 daily | 1,372 | 176 (12.8) | 1.13 (0.48, 2.68) | 1.19 (0.49, 2.92) | 2.70 (0.81, 9.01) |
| >2 Daily | 84 | 43 (51.2) | 8.04 (3.10, 20.84) | 6.08 (2.22, 16.69) | 8.60 (2.22, 33.31) |
| Urgency | |||||
| Nod | 1,426 | 171 (12.0) | 1.0 (ref) | 1.0 (ref) | 1.0 (ref) |
| Yese | 75 | 54 (72.0) | 18.87 (11.12, 32.02) | 12.66 (7.05, 22.71) | 6.58(3.27, 13.24) |
| Loose or watery stools | |||||
| Nod | 1,384 | 159 (11.5) | 1.0 (ref) | 1.0 (ref) | 1.0 (ref) |
| Yese | 122 | 63 (51.6) | 8.23 (5.56, 12.17) | 4.91 (3.08, 7.83) | 2.16 (1.19, 3.89) |
| Straining | |||||
| Nod | 1,441 | 211 (14.6) | 1.0 (ref) | 1.0 (ref) | 1.0 (ref) |
| Yese | 68 | 14 (20.6) | 1.51 (0.83, 2.77) | 1.67 (0.89, 3.13) | 0.26 (0.09, 0.76) |
| Time to defecate | |||||
| < 5 min | 1,158 | 147 (12.7) | 1.0 (ref) | 1.0 (ref) | 1.0 (ref) |
| 5 – 30 min | 343 | 75 (21.9) | 1.93 (1.41, 2.62) | 2.08 (1.50, 2.89) | 1.69 (1.13, 2.53) |
| >30 min | 7 | 3 (42.9) | 5.16 (1.14, 23.28) | 5.45 (1.08, 27.52) | 2.00 (0.23, 17.84) |
| Feeling of anal blockage | |||||
| Nod | 1,478 | 215 (14.6) | 1.0 (ref) | 1.0 (ref) | 1.0 (ref) |
| Yese | 21 | 9 (42.9) | 4.41 (1.83, 10.58) | 4.33 (1.74, 10.75) | 5.71 (1.37, 23.78) |
| Anorectal trauma | |||||
| No | 1,458 | 207 (14.2) | 1.0 (ref) | 1.0 (ref) | 1.0 (ref) |
| Yes | 27 | 12 (44.4) | 4.84 (2.23, 10.48) | 4.37 (1.90, 10.05) | 4.25 (1.66, 10.86) |
| Pelvic radiation | |||||
| No | 1,450 | 206 (14.2) | 1.0 (ref) | 1.0 (ref) | 1.0 (ref) |
| Yes | 42 | 15 (35.7) | 3.36 (1.76, 6.42) | 3.40 (1.68, 6.91) | 3.58 (1.63, 7.90) |
CI, confidence interval; FI, fecal incontinence; OR, odds ratio.
Adjusted for age, gender, and diarrhea, except as noted (#) for usual bowel pattern, which only adjusted for age and gender.
From backward elimination selection process, only those remaining in the model are shown.
Per 10 years of age.
Defined as never or sometimes.
Defined as often or usually.
Variables not retained in the model following the backward elimination approach included the following: days without stools, hard stools, incomplete evacuation, manual disimpaction, position other than sitting for defecation, medications to assist defecation, perianal infection, fistula, anorectal surgery, diabetes, spinal cord injury, stroke, vaginal births, rectal prolapse, and rectocele.