ADULT FEMALE URINARY-INCONTINENCE AND CHILDHOOD BEDWETTING

A cross-sectional random population sample of women 30 to 59 years old was sent a questionnaire on urinary incontinence and, among other thi ngs, childhood bedwetting. Among 2,613 responders 17.0% reported preva lent urinary incontinence (14.7% stress provoked, 8.3% associated with urge, 6.8% stress and urge overlap, 2.2% occurring especially during sleep and 3.9% occurring especially when anxious), and 6.5% reported c hildhood bedwetting after age 5 years and 3.3% after age 10 years. Chi ldhood bedwetting was associated with prevalent urge urinary incontine nce (p<0.01) and incontinence occurring during sleep (p<0.0001) but wa s less marked with urinary incontinence occurring in situations of anx iety (p<0.025). It is concluded that some individuals suffer a long-la sting disturbance of the balance between micturition and sleep process es.