Fecal incontinence in primary care: prevalence, diagnosis, and health care utilization

Objective We sought to estimate the frequency of self-reported fecal incontinence (FI), identify what proportion of these patients have a diagnosis of FI in their medical record, and compare health care costs and utilization in patients with different severities of FI to those without FI. Study Desi...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of obstetrics and gynecology 2010-05, Vol.202 (5), p.493.e1-493.e6
Main Authors: Dunivan, Gena C., MD, Heymen, Steve, PhD, Palsson, Olafur S., PsyD, von Korff, Michael, ScD, Turner, Marsha J., MS, Melville, Jennifer L., MD, Whitehead, William E., PhD
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Biological and medical sciences
fecal incontinence
Fecal Incontinence - diagnosis
Fecal Incontinence - economics
Fecal Incontinence - epidemiology
Female
Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen
Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics
Health Care Costs
health care utilization
Health Maintenance Organizations - utilization
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Other diseases. Semiology
Prevalence
Primary Health Care
Quality of Life
screening
Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus
Washington - epidemiology
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Objective We sought to estimate the frequency of self-reported fecal incontinence (FI), identify what proportion of these patients have a diagnosis of FI in their medical record, and compare health care costs and utilization in patients with different severities of FI to those without FI. Study Design Patients in a health maintenance organization were eligible and 1707 completed a survey. Patients with self-reported FI were assessed for a diagnosis of FI in their medical record for the last 5 years. Health care costs and utilization were obtained from claims data. Results FI was reported by 36.2% of primary care patients, but only 2.7% of patients with FI had a medical diagnosis. FI adversely affected quality of life and severe FI was associated with 55% higher health care costs (including 77% higher gastrointestinal-related health care costs) compared to continent patients. Conclusion Increased screening of FI is needed.
ISSN:0002-9378
1097-6868
DOI:10.1016/j.ajog.2010.01.018