Alarm-assisted urotherapy for daytime urinary incontinence in children: A meta-analysis

Wearable alarm systems are frequently used tools added to urotherapy for children with both daytime and nighttime urinary incontinence. For functional daytime incontinence (DUI) specifically, the effect of alarm interventions has not been systematically reviewed. This study systematically evaluates, summarizes, reviews, and analyzes existing evidence about the effect of wearable alarm systems in urotherapy for children with functional DUI.

We completed a comprehensive literature search in August 2022 using MEDLINE/PUBMED, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Google Scholar, conference abstracts, and citation tracking. Clinical controlled trials at controlled-trials.com and clinicaltrials.gov were consulted, as was the National health Service Center For Reviews And Dissemination. Eligible studies including the use of noninvasive wearable alarm systems as (part of) treatment for functional DUI in children were included. The main outcome was continence after treatment. Three independent reviewers extracted data. Risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane and National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute quality assessment tools.

A total of 10 studies out of 1,382 records were included. Meta-analysis revealed a nonsignificant risk ratio of 1.4 (95% CI: 0.8-2.6) for the use of alarm systems. Urotherapy with alarm systems resulted in a 48% (95% CI: 33-62%) continence rate after treatment.

Alarm systems might be helpful as part of urotherapy for functional DUI in select cases. Adherence is problematic, and the optimal duration of the use of alarm systems is to be determined. Overall, the risk of bias was high in all studies.