A randomised controlled trial of a code-word enuresis alarm

ObjectiveTo compare a novel code-word alarm with a commercially available wireless alarm for treating enuresis.SettingA tertiary paediatric centre.PatientsChildren aged 6–18 with at least 3 wet nights per week in the previous 6 months referred by doctors.OutcomesPrimary outcome: the proportion who achieved a full response (14 consecutive dry nights) by 16 weeks. Secondary outcomes: change in frequency of wetting, duration of alarm training, percentage of wet nights that the child woke to the alarm, adherence to treatment, adverse events and satisfaction with treatment.ResultsOf the 353 participants, 176 were assigned to the code-word alarm and 177 to control. At 16 weeks, 54% (95% CI 47% to 61%) in the experimental group and 47% (95% CI 40% to 55%) in the control group had achieved a full response (p=0.22), with 74% and 66%, respectively, attaining a 50% or more reduction in wetting frequency (p=0.14). The experimental group woke more often than the control group (median percentage of waking 88% vs 77%, p=0.003) and had a greater reduction in wet nights (median reduction of 10 vs 9 nights per fortnight). Fewer in the experimental group discontinued therapy before achieving a full response (27% vs 37% discontinued, p=0.04). There were no significant differences in relapse rates at 6 months, adverse events or satisfaction between the two alarms.ConclusionsAlthough the code-word alarm increased waking, no difference in full response rates was demonstrated between the two alarms.Trial registration numberACTRN12609000070235.</jats:sec

A Population based study of 2,856 school-age children with urinary incontinence

Purpose: We estimated the spectrum and risk factors for daytime urinary incontinence in school-age children. Materials and Methods: A validated, reproducible, parent administered daytime incontinence questionnaire was distributed to randomly selected school children. The questionnaire elicited information on demographic factors, prenatal and developmental factors, and bowel and urinary history. The spectrum of daytime urinary incontinence was measured by recording the frequency and amount of incontinence. Results: Parents of 2,856 children (mean age 7.3 years) completed the questionnaire. Overall 16.9% reported any daytime urinary incontinence in the previous 6 months, with 64% of cases being very mild, 14.8% mild, 11.6% moderate and 9.6% severe. There was low agreement between frequency and amount of incontinence (weighted kappa 0.03) but risk factors were similar. Independent risk factors were nocturnal enuresis (OR 7.2, 95% CI 3.4 to 15.2), female gender (5.4, 2.6 to 11.1), social concerns (3.4, 1.4 to 8.3), urinary tract infection (5.6, 2.0 to 15.6) and encopresis (3.3, 1.4 to 7.7). Expressed as population attributable risk, 36% of moderate to severe daytime incontinence can be attributed to encopresis, nocturnal enuresis, social concerns, female gender or urinary tract infection. Urinary tract infection was a risk factor for boys but not for girls (interaction p <0.01). Conclusions: Daytime urinary incontinence in children is a common but heterogeneous disorder. Episodes may be frequent or major or both but appear to share the same causal pathway. Given the risk factors identified, interventions should target endogenous/physiological and environmental factors.9 page(s

Tricyclic and related drugs for nocturnal enuresis in children

BACKGROUND: Enuresis (bedwetting) affects up to 20% of five year‐olds and 2% of adults. Although spontaneous remission often occurs, the social, emotional and psychological costs can be great. Tricyclics have been used to treat enuresis since the 1960s. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of tricyclic and related drugs compared with other interventions for treating children with enuresis. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Incontinence Group Specialised Trials Register (containing trials identified from the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, MEDLINE in process, ClinicalTrials.gov, WHO ICTRP and handsearching of journals and conference proceedings), on 30 November 2015, and reference lists of relevant articles. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included all randomised and quasi‐randomised trials comparing a tricyclic or related drug with another intervention for treating enuresis. We also included combination therapies that included tricyclics. We excluded trials for treating daytime wetting. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently assessed the quality of the eligible trials, and extracted data. We settled differences by discussion with a third review author. MAIN RESULTS: Sixty‐four trials met the inclusion criteria, involving 4071 children. The quality of many trials was poor, with comparisons addressed by single studies. Minor adverse effects were common, and reported in 30 trials. These included dizziness, headache, mood changes, gastrointestinal discomforts and neutropenia. More serious side‐effects can occur but were not reported. Seven trials reported no adverse effects. Tricyclics are more effective than placebo, particularly for short‐term outcomes. Compared to placebo, imipramine resulted in one fewer wet nights per week (mean difference (MD) ‐0.95, 95% confidence interval (CI) ‐1.40 to ‐0.50; 4 trials, 347 children), with fewer failing to achieve 14 consecutive dry nights (78% versus 95% for placebo, RR 0.74, 95% CI 0.61 to 0.90; 12 trials, 831 children). Amitriptyline and desipramine were more effective than placebo, but nortriptyline and mianserin showed no difference. Most tricyclics did not have a sustained effect after ceasing treatment, with 96% wetting at follow‐up for imipramine versus 97% for placebo. Imipramine combined with oxybutynin is also more effective than placebo, with 33% failing to achieve 14 consecutive dry nights at the end of treatment versus 78% for placebo (RR 0.43, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.78; 1 trial, 47 children) and 45% wetting at follow‐up versus 79% for placebo (RR 0.58, 95% CI 0.34 to 0.99; 1 trial, 36 children). There was insufficient evidence to judge the effect between different doses of tricyclics, and between different tricyclics. Treatment outcomes between tricyclic and desmopressin were similar, but were mixed when tricyclic was compared with an anticholinergic. However, when imipramine was compared with desmopressin plus oxybutynin (1 trial, 45 children), the combination therapy was more effective, with one fewer wet nights per week (MD 1.07, 95% CI 0.06 to 2.08) and 36% failing to achieve 14 consecutive dry nights versus 87% for imipramine (RR 2.39, 95% CI 1.35 to 4.25). Tricyclics were also more effective or showed no difference in response when compared to other drugs which are no longer used for enuresis. Tricyclics were less effective than alarms. Although there was no difference in the number of wet nights, 67% failed to achieve 14 consecutive dry nights for imipramine versus only 17% for alarms (RR 4.00, 95% CI 1.06 to 15.08; 1 trial, 24 children). Alarm therapy also had a more sustained effect after ceasing treatment with 100% on imipramine versus 58% on alarms wetting at follow‐up (RR 1.67, 95% CI 1.03 to 2.69; 1 trial, 24 children). Imipramine was more effective than simple behavioural therapies during treatment, with one fewer wet nights per week compared with star chart plus placebo (MD ‐0.80, 95% CI ‐1.33 to ‐0.27; 1 trial, 250 children). At follow‐up 40% were wet with imipramine versus 80% with fluids and avoiding punishment (RR 0.50, 95% CI 0.28 to 0.89; 1 trial, 40 children). However, imipramine was less effective than complex behavioural therapies, with 61% failing to achieve 14 consecutive dry nights for imipramine versus 33% for the three‐step programme (RR 1.83, 95% CI 1.08 to 3.12; 1 trial, 72 children) and 16% for the three‐step programme combined with motivational therapy and computer‐led education (RR 3.91, 95% CI 2.30 to 6.66; 1 trial, 132 children) at the end of treatment, with similar results at follow‐up. Tricyclics were more effective than restricted diet, with 99% failing to achieve 14 consecutive dry nights versus 84% for imipramine (RR 0.84, 95% CI 0.75 to 0.93; 1 trial, 147 children).There was insufficient evidence to judge the effect of tricyclics compared to the other miscellaneous interventions studied. At the end of treatment there were about two fewer wet nights for imipramine plus oxybutynin compared with imipramine monotherapy (MD ‐2.10, 95% CI ‐2.99 to ‐1.21; 1 trial, 63 children) and 48% on imipramine plus oxybutynin failed to achieve 14 consecutive dry nights compared with 74% on imipramine monotherapy (RR 0.68, 95% CI 0.50 to 0.92; 2 trials, 101 children). At follow‐up, 45% on imipramine plus oxybutynin were wetting versus 83% on imipramine monotherapy (RR 0.55, 95% CI 0.32 to 0.92; 1 trial, 36 children). When imipramine combined with desmopressin was compared with imipramine monotherapy, there was no difference in outcomes. However, when imipramine plus desmopressin was compared with desmopressin monotherapy, the combination was more effective, with 15% not achieving 14 consecutive dry nights at the end of treatment for imipramine plus desmopressin versus 40% for desmopressin monotherapy (RR 0.38, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.83; 1 trial, 86 children). Tricyclics combined with alarm therapy were not more effective than alarm monotherapy, alarm combined with desmopressin or alarm combined with nortriptyline. The addition of a tricyclic to other behavioural therapies did not alter treatment response. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There was evidence that tricyclics are effective at reducing the number of wet nights during treatment, but do not have a sustained effect after treatment stops, with most children relapsing. In contrast, there was evidence that alarm therapy has better short‐ and long‐term outcomes. There was some evidence that tricyclics combined with anticholinergics may be more effective that tricyclic monotherapy