Prevalence of anal incontinence in a working population within a healthcare environment.

OBJECTIVES: Anal incontinence is a devastating affliction with several considerations that make it difficult to define in terms of epidemiology with good precision. The aim of the present work is to study the prevalence of an important disorder such as anal incontinence in a healthy working population within a sanitary environment.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cluster of easy understanding and filling inquiry forms are distributed to 910 apparently healthy individuals at our hospital. This questionnaires include filiation data, passed medical history, presence or not of Incontinence and other symptoms such as urgency. The Cleveland Clinic Incontinence Score is also registered.

RESULTS: Anal incontinence is present in a 21.2% of subjects when considered in any of it forms (flatus, liquid or solid faeces). A Clevleand Clinic Incontinence Score higher than 6 was obtained in a 7.3% of the sample and higher than 10 in 1.2%. No gender predominance has been identified. A slightly higher severity is recognised with increasing age. Obstetric and anal surgical background are the only related factors identified in the studied sample.

CONCLUSIONS: Faecal incontinence is a high prevalent affliction, even among apparently healthy population. Considering the aetiologic factors that have been established, prevention during obstetric and anal surgical procedures is absolutely mandatory.