Bowel bladder dysfunction in control children in a pediatric urology office

Bowel bladder dysfunction (BBD) is common in children. Risk factors for BBD include age, gender, obesity, and behavioral issues such as ADHD. We investigated the modified Swedish Bowel-Bladder questionnaire as a sensitive indicator of BBD in healthy children.

We tested the usefulness of the Swedish Bowel-Bladder Questionnaire (BBQ) as an indicator of BBD in children not complaining of bowel/bladder dysfunction at the time of their visit to a pediatric urologist. Our secondary aim was to identify correlations between BBQ scores and risk factors such as gender, BMI, and ADHD.

All families in our Pediatric Urology practice with patients >30 months old who were reportedly toilet trained were provided the Swedish BBQ. Total score as well as sub-scores for storage, emptying, and constipation were prospectively collected. Presenting diagnosis, gender, BMI, and ADHD history were collected. BBQ scores for patients with voiding dysfunction were compared to controls: a) those with genital problems (e.g. hydrocele/undescended testes), b) those with CAKUT (congenital anomalies of the kidneys and urinary tract). BBQ scores were analyzed as a continuous variable vs the potential risk factors (ADHD, obesity, age, and gender) using univariable/multivariable regression analysis.

The median BBQ score for the 328 control patients (95 CAKUT and 233 genital) was 2.25 with an IQR: 1 to 6. In contrast, the median BBQ was higher for those with possible voiding dysfunction; n = 282; 9 with an IQR: 5 to 15). Total BBQ score exceeded 6 in 16% (52/328) of control patients. On multivariable analysis, age-adjusted total BBQ scores increased with ADHD in our controls (p = 0.03) but were unaffected by gender or BMI. On multivariable analysis of the voiding dysfunction group, total BBQ scores similarly decreased with age (p < 0.001) and increased with ADHD (p < 0.001) and were affected by gender (p = 0.024). BMI percentile had no significant effect in either cohort.

The Swedish BBQ was used in a U.S population and demonstrated trends towards increased voiding dysfunction associated with younger age, female gender, and ADHD. We learned that voiding dysfunction in children with ADHD is not associated with constipation and improves over time. Additionally, 16% of children with genital or urinary abnormalities and no voiding complaints have noticeable BBD uncovered by the BBQ. Hence, we conclude that the Swedish BBQ is a sensitive indicator of BBD even in children not complaining of those problems.