Depth of sleep and sleep habits among enuretic and incontinent children

In Order to evaluate differences in sleep factors between children with wet ting problems and dry children, questionnaire data were obtained from 1,413 schoolchildren between the ages of 6 and 10 y. The analyses were performed using logistic regression, and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were calculated to approximate the relative risk. Current enuresis was associated with a su bjectively high arousal threshold, paver nocturnus, nocturia and confusion when awoken from sleep (ORs 2.7, 2.4, 2.1 and 3.4, respectively), whereas c hildren with current incontinence often experienced bedtime fears, onset in somnia or nocturia (ORs 2.4, 2.3 and 2.7, respectively). Children exhibitin g urinary urgency were overrepresented among both children with current enu resis (OR 2.5) and those with current incontinence (OR 17.2). It is conclud ed that impaired arousal mechanisms and bladder instability are aetiologica l factors underlying nocturnal enuresis.