ABSTRACT
Fecal incontinence is a disabling and distressing condition that can severely affect quality of life. This ‘‘silent affliction’’ is commonly diagnosed in elderly patients who reside in nursing homes. Because many individuals deny this condition to their general practitioners, the exact incidence of fecal incontinence remains unknown. However, the reported incidence in the literature varies from 0.1% to 5% of the general population (1-3). The prevalence of fecal incontinence is also difficult to estimate; one survey shows fecal incontinence appears to be more common than previously appreciated at 13.7% (4) among individuals seen by primary care physicians, compared to 7.8% as previously reported by Drossman et al. (5) in 1993. Additionally, they noted a progressive increase in the prevalence of fecal incontinence with increasing age and a predilection for males. However, due to obstetrical trauma in women under 45 years of age, fecal incontinence is eight times more frequent than in the ageequivalent male population (6). In a recent survey that included 15,904 adults aged 40 years or older and excluding residents of nursing homes 1.4% reported major fecal incontinence and 0.7% major fecal incontinence with bowel symptoms with impaired quality of life (7).
