Fecal Incontinence: Prevalence, Severity, and Quality of Life Data from an Outpatient Gastroenterology Practice

Table 1

Patient Characteristics.

Patients, 𝑛	58
Female gender, 𝑛 (%)	42 (74)
Patient age, years (range)	45 (22–84)
Onset age, years (range)	49 (17–80)
Education level, %
Less than high school	9.3
High school	51.8
Attended college or greater	38.9
Patients with risk factors for FI, n (%)	72
Hemorrhoids	21 (36.0)
Hysterectomy^a	12 (29.0)
Irritable bowel syndrome	10 (17.0)
Episiotomies^a	7 (17.0)
Forceps deliveries^a	7 (17.0)
Diabetes	9 (15.5)
Inflammatory bowel disease	3 (5.0)
Anorectal surgery	3 (5.0)
Spinal surgery	3 (5.0)
Rectal Prolapse	2 (3.4)
Anal fissures	2 (3.4)
Scleroderma	2 (3.4)
Radiation therapy (abdomen, pelvis)	2 (3.4)
Rectal/vaginal surgery^a	1(2.4)
Pelvic or rectal cancer	1(1.7)
Daily incontinence, %
Solid	17
Liquid/mucous	25
Reason for visit, n (%)
Upper GI complaints	13 (22.0)
Lower GI complaints	36 (62.0)
Liver	5 (8.6)
Anemia	2 (3.4)
FI	2 (3.4)
Duration, 𝑛 (%)
Less than 5 years, 𝑛 (%)	49 (84.5)
Greater than 5 years, 𝑛 (%)	9 (15.5)
Use of pads, 𝑛 (%)	20 (34)
Use of diapers, 𝑛 (%)	8 (14)

^aAssessed for women only; percentage represents % of women only
*Percents do not summate to 100% as many patients reported overlapping comorbidities.