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Approximately 1 in 12 adults worldwide has fecal incontinence (FI), according to a recent meta-analysis.

FI is more common among individuals 60 years and older, yet a considerable portion of younger people — almost 5% — may also suffer from FI, reported Isabelle Mack, PhD, of University Medical Hospital, Tübingen, Germany, and colleagues.

"Clinicians' understanding of the prevalence and risk factors for FI have evolved with time," the investigators wrote in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. "Initially, FI was regarded as a symptom that predominantly affected older people, especially nursing home residents. Its prevalence among community-dwelling adults was underrecognized, possibly because persons with FI were hesitant to even disclose that they were symptomatic. Now, we recognize that FI is common in the community."

The only previous meta-analysis of FI, published in 2006, included both community and noncommunity studies, and reported an FI prevalence of 4.3%. Two subsequent reviews put the median prevalence at 7.7%, yet neither offered geographic insights.

To address this knowledge gap, Dr. Mack and colleagues conducted a meta-analysis of 80 studies involving 548,316 community-dwelling teenagers and adults. The median response rate across the studies was 66%.

Evaluating these data revealed a pooled global prevalence of FI was 8.0%, with a lower rate of 5.4% when FI was confined to Rome criteria.

"Placed in perspective, the 8.0% prevalence of FI is lower than or similar to the global prevalence of IBS, as assessed by a meta-regression (11.2%) and by a systematic review (8.8%) using pre–Rome IV criteria, and it is twofold greater than the IBS prevalence assessed with Rome IV criteria," the investigators wrote.

Among individuals aged 60 years and older, the FI prevalence was 9.3%, compared with 4.9% for younger people (odds ratio [OR], 1.75; 95% CI, 1.39-2.20).

"These differences are at least partly explained by age-associated declines in anorectal function (e.g., lower anal resting pressure and rectal distensibility, denervation of the external anal sphincter)," the investigators wrote.

FI was also significantly more common among women than men (9.1% vs 7.4%; OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.06-1.28).

"Although these differences in FI prevalence between men and women seem relatively small, most patients with FI who seek medical attention are women (unpublished data)," the investigators wrote. "We suspect that men less commonly seek medical attention for FI because they may be secretly resigned to having FI, because FI may have less of an emotional impact on men, and because health literacy with regard to FI is lower for men."

Geographically, prevalence of FI was highest in Australia and Oceania, followed by North America, Asia, and Europe. Data were insufficient to estimates rates in the Middle East and Africa.

Dr. Mack and colleagues concluded by noting how bothersome FI is for so many individuals worldwide, which should warrant closer attention from the medical community.

"Because nearly one in four community-dwelling women with FI report that the symptom has a moderate or severe impact on one or more domains of quality of life, more resources should be devoted to research in this area," they wrote. "Future epidemiologic studies of FI should also assess the severity of FI, risk factors for FI, and the impact of FI on quality of life. In addition, because some patients are reluctant to acknowledge or discuss FI during an in-person interview, written or internet-based surveys may be preferable."

This study was supported by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. The investigators disclosed no conflicts of interest.

This article originally appeared on MDedge.com, part of the Medscape Professional Network.