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Updated: Jan 4, 2026
Real-Time Void Spot Assay
Published on: February 10, 2023
Bladder and Bowel Dysfunction in Korean Children with Down Syndrome and Parental Quality of Life
Eun Kyoung Choi1, Yong Ju Lee2, Hooyun Lee3
1Mo-Im Kim Nursing Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Nursing, Seoul, South Korea.
Insights
Bladder bowel dysfunction (BBD) affects nearly 19% of children with Down syndrome (DS), impacting their quality of life. Early BBD screening in children with DS is crucial for timely intervention and improved family well-being.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric gastroenterology
- Developmental pediatrics
- Urology
Background:
- Children with Down syndrome (DS) exhibit a higher predisposition to bladder bowel dysfunction (BBD) compared to typically developing children.
- BBD in children with DS can significantly impact their overall health and the quality of life (QOL) for their families.
- The prevalence and impact of BBD in Korean children with DS have not been extensively studied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of BBD in Korean children with Down syndrome.
- To investigate the association between BBD and parental quality of life (QOL) in this population.
- To highlight the need for routine BBD screening in children with DS.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study utilizing self-administered questionnaires.
- Dysfunctional Voiding Symptom Score (DVSS), Rome IV criteria, and World Health Organization Quality of Life scale (WHOQOL-BREF) were employed.
- Data were collected from 86 parents of children with DS via an online community website.
Main Results:
- The Dysfunctional Voiding Symptom Score (DVSS) indicated elevated symptoms in 26.7% of children with DS.
- 18.6% of children with DS met the criteria for BBD based on DVSS and Rome IV.
- A statistically significant correlation was found between BBD severity and reduced parental QOL (r=0.291, p=0.007).
Conclusions:
- Children with Down syndrome are at high risk for BBD, with symptoms often being overlooked due to intellectual disability.
- Undiagnosed and untreated BBD can negatively affect the long-term health and QOL of children with DS and their families.
- Routine screening for BBD in children with DS by healthcare providers, with urologist consultation when necessary, is recommended.
Purpose:
Children with Down syndrome (DS) are more likely to experience bladder bowel dysfunction (BBD) than typically developing children, which could in turn have a serious effect on children with DS and on their parents and other family members. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of BBD in Korean children with DS and its effect on parental quality of life (QOL).
Design And Methods:
To assess BBD and parental QOL, we used self-administered questionnaires (Dysfunctional Voiding Symptom Score [DVSS], Rome IV criteria, and World Health Organization Quality of Life scale [WHOQOL-BREF]) for parents of children with DS. We collected data from 86 parents between September and October 2017 through an online community website.
Results:
DVSS was elevated in 26.7% of the children with DS. Specifically, 14% had daytime urinary incontinence, and 33.7% had functional constipation. Moreover, 18.6% of children had BBD according to the DVSS and Rome IV criteria. The sensitivity and specificity of DVSS to functional constipation was 55.17% and 87.72%, respectively. The BBD score and total parental QOL score were statistically correlated (r = 0.291, p = 0.007).
Conclusions:
Although children with DS are a high-risk group for BBD, their BBD symptoms are often overlooked because of their intellectual disability. Consequently, this could negatively affect children's and family's health and QOL in the long term.
Practice Implications:
Health-care providers should reconsider a routine check-up of BBD in children with DS. If a child has BBD, health-care providers should consult a urologist to determine the appropriate diagnosis and intervention.
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