Table 2.
Differences in childhood bladder and bowel dysfunctions (parent- and self-reported) between DMD and control group. Data are presented as n (%) with median age (range). a Likert scale for symptoms on all items are (never-(nearly) every day) dichotomized: ‘Never or once in the preceding month’ classified as ‘non-symptomatic’ (no); ‘more than once in the preceding month to (nearly) every day in the past month’ classified as ‘symptomatic’ (yes). Missing items were imputed as ‘non-symptomatic’. b Pearson’s chi-square; * p-value < 0.05. DMD = Duchenne muscular dystrophy; HC = healthy control.
| Items a | DMD | HC | p-Value b | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N = 57 | Median age (range), yr | N = 56 | Median age (range), yr | ||
| 1. Passes urine more than 8 times during the day | 8 (14) | 9.0 (6–16) | 2 (4) | 7.5 (5–10) | 0.062 |
| 2. Wets underwear and/or outer clothing during the day | 20 (35) | 13.0 (6–18) | 5 (9) | 10.0 (5–18) | 0.001 * |
| 3. Loses some drops of urine immediately after urinating has finished | 18 (32) | 14.0 (6–18) | 11 (20) | 14.0 (5–18) | 0.161 |
| 4. Loses urine within the hour after urinating has finished | 5 (9) | 10.5 (7–14) | 0 (0) | - | 0.026 * |
| 5. Seems to ignore the urge to urinate | 16 (28) | 13.0 (6–18) | 11 (20) | 7.0 (5–15) | 0.293 |
| 6. Uses tricks to stay dry, like wriggling or forcefully crossing the legs | 15 (26) | 9.0 (6–17) | 9 (16) | 8.0 (5–16) | 0.182 |
| 7. Experiences a sudden uncontrollable urge to urinate | 12 (21) | 13.0 (6–17) | 4 (7) | 8.0 (6–13) | 0.037 * |
| 8. Postpones first urination in the morning | 4 (7) | 10.0 (6–14) | 4 (7) | 6.0 (5–10) | 0.936 |
| 9. Wets the bed or diaper during sleeping periods | 6 (11) | 8.0 (6–16) | 3 (5) | 8.0 (5–10) | 0.310 |
| 10. Wakes up at night to urinate | 16 (28) | 13.0 (8–18) | 6 (11) | 10.0 (5–12) | 0.020 * |
| 11. Has two or fewer bowel movements per week | 9 (16) | 16.0 (5–18) | 1 (2) | 13.0 (13) | 0.010 * |
| 12. Stains or soils the underwear with stools | 13 (23) | 12.0 (6–18) | 7 (13) | 9.0 (5–13) | 0.150 |
| 13. Has hard stools or painful bowel movements | 6 (11) | 11.5 (7–17) | 4 (7) | 13.5 (7–14) | 0.507 |
| 14. Has large amounts of stool (that may obstruct the toilet) | 5 (9) | 8.5 (8–18) | 3 (5) | 6.0 (5–14) | 0.513 |
| 15. Postpones bowel movements | 12 (21) | 12.5 (6–17) | 8 (14) | 7.0 (5–18) | 0.369 |
| 16. Experiences a sudden uncontrollable urge to defecate | 8 (14) | 9.5 (6–17) | 3 (5) | 6.0 (5–7) | 0.112 |
| 17. Has abdominal pain | 16 (28) | 13.5 (8–18) | 6 (11) | 8.5 (7–16) | 0.032 * |
| 18. Has a bloated belly | 8 (14) | 14.5 (8–17) | 4 (7) | 8.5 (5–13) | 0.247 |
| At least one bladder symptom | 42 (74) | 13.0 (6–18) | 32 (57) | 10.0 (5–18) | 0.079 |
| At least one bowel symptom | 39 (68) | 14.0 (5–18) | 22 (39) | 12.5 (5–18) | 0.002 * |
| Combined bladder and bowel symptom | 30 (53) | 13.0 (6–18) | 17 (30) | 12.0 (5–18) | 0.019 * |