Evaluation of lower urinary tract symptoms in children with Down syndrome: A prospective, case-controlled cohort...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Urology
• Developmental Pediatrics
• Genetics

Background:

• Children with Down syndrome (DS) often present with cognitive impairment and intellectual disability (ID).
• Dysfunctional voiding is hypothesized to be more prevalent in children with DS than in the general population.
• Urinary symptoms can have significant long-term health implications, including renal complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the prevalence and severity of voiding symptoms in children with Down syndrome versus a control group.
• To assess overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms and dysfunctional voiding (DV) using validated questionnaires.
• To establish the utility of noninvasive questionnaires for identifying urinary issues in DS.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 37 children with DS and 59 healthy children were enrolled.
• Validated questionnaires, including the Overactive Bladder Questionnaire (OAB-V8) and Dysfunctional Voiding Symptom Score (DVSS), were administered.
• Descriptive and comparative statistical analyses were performed to evaluate the data.

Main Results:

• Children with DS had significantly higher total scores on both the OAB-V8 and DVSS.
• Specific OAB symptoms such as increased voiding frequency, urgency, and urgency incontinence were more common in the DS group.
• The DS group also reported higher scores for daytime incontinence, urgency, urgency incontinence, and reduced quality of life on the DVSS.

Conclusions:

• Children with Down syndrome exhibit a higher incidence of dysfunctional voiding and overactive bladder symptoms.
• Intellectual disability in DS may mask or alter the expression of these urinary symptoms.
• Validated questionnaires offer a simple, effective, and noninvasive method for early detection and management of voiding dysfunction in DS, crucial for preventing renal complications.