The frequency of bowel and bladder problems in multiple sclerosis and its relation to fatigue: A single centre experience

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 14; no. 9; p. e0222731
• Main Authors: Lin, Sophia D, Butler, Jane E, Boswell-Ruys, Claire L, Hoang, Phu, Jarvis, Tom, Gandevia, Simon C, McCaughey, Euan J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 19.09.2019; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Australia; Australians; Biology and Life Sciences; Bladder; Care and treatment; Computer and Information Sciences; Constipation; Fatigue; Fatigue - complications; Fatigue - physiopathology; Fecal incontinence; Fecal Incontinence - etiology; Fecal Incontinence - physiopathology; Female; Health; Health aspects; Humans; Incontinence; Informatics; Intestine; Intestines - physiopathology; Male; Medicine and Health Sciences; Middle Aged; Multiple sclerosis; Multiple Sclerosis - complications; Multiple Sclerosis - physiopathology; Neurosciences; Novels; Patient satisfaction; People and Places; Physical Sciences; Quality of Life; Questionnaires; Regression analysis; Regression models; Research and Analysis Methods; Risk factors; Studies; Surveys and Questionnaires; Urinary Bladder - physiopathology; Urinary incontinence; Urology; Australia; Sydney New South Wales Australia; Wales
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0222731

Bowel and bladder problems affect more than 50% of people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). These problems have a large impact on quality of life and place a significant burden on health systems. This study aimed to ascertain the frequency of bladder and bowel problems in a select Australian MS cohort and to investigate the relationships between level of disability, bladder and bowel problems, and fatigue. Questionnaires on the nature and severity of MS symptoms were distributed to clients attending an Australian MS centre. Log-binomial regression and multiple linear regression models were used to investigate relationships between disability, fatigue, and bladder and bowel problems. Of 167 questionnaires distributed, 136 were completed. Bladder problems were reported by 87 (74.4%) respondents, whilst 66 (48.9%) experienced functional constipation and 43 (31.9%) faecal incontinence. This frequency in our select Australian MS population is similar to that reported globally. There was a significant correlation between level of disability and: bladder problems (p = 0.015), faecal incontinence (p = 0.001), fatigue (p<0.001) and constipation (p = 0.016, relative risk: 1.16). Further investigation into the causal relationships between various MS symptoms may be beneficial in the development of novel therapeutic strategies for people with MS.