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Young women and elderly men at risk of severe faecal incontinence: results of a French nationwide database analysis

Faecal incontinence in France

  • RESEARCH
  • Published:
International Journal of Colorectal Disease Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The incidence of severe faecal incontinence (FI) in young people is likely underestimated. The objective of this study is to assess the incidence of FI by using the French national insurance information system (SNDS).

Methods

The SNDS was used, including 2 health insurance claims databases. The study included 49,097,454 French people who were ≥ 20 years old in 2019. The main outcome measure was the occurrence of FI.

Results

In 2019, 123,630 patients out of the entire French population (n = 49 097 454) (0.25%) were treated for FI. The numbers of male and female patients were similar. The data showed a dramatic increase in the incidence of FI between the ages of 20 and 59 in female patients, compared to 60 and 79 in male patients. The risk of FI increased with age (OR of 3.6 to 11.3 depending on age). Women had a higher risk of severe FI compared to men between the ages of 20 and 39 (OR = 1.3; 95%CI:1.3–1.4) and the ages of 40 and 59 (OR = 1.1; 95%CI:1.08–1.13). This risk decreased after the age of 80 (OR = 0.96; 95%CI:0.93–0.99). The rate of diagnosis of FI also increased where there were greater numbers of proctologists practising in the region of residence in question (OR of 1.07 to 1.35 depending on the number of proctologists).

Conclusion

Young women who have given birth and elderly men are at risk of FI and must be targeted by public health information campaigns. The development of coloproctology networks should be encouraged.

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Availability of data and materials

The datasets used and/or analysed as part of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Code availability

Not applicable.

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Author information

Author notes

  1. M. Levaillant and A. Venara are joint lead authors.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Health, Department of Medicine, Angers, France

    M. Levaillant, A. Venara & J. F. Hamel

  2. Department of Visceral and Endocrinal Surgery, University Hospital of Angers, 4 rue Larrey, 49933, Angers Cedex 09, France

    A. Venara

  3. IHFIH, UPRES EA 3859, University of Angers, Angers, France

    A. Venara

  4. Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69437, Lyon, France

    H. Damon

  5. Clinique Protestante, 69300, Caluire et Cuire, France

    H. Damon

  6. Unité d’explorations Fonctionnelles Digestives, CHU Rennes Pontchaillou, Rennes, France

    L. Siproudhis & C. Brochard

  7. Service des Maladies de l’appareil digestif, unité de proctologie, CHU Rennes Pontchaillou, Rennes, France

    L. Siproudhis & C. Brochard

  8. Department of Biostatistics, La Maison de la Recherche, University Hospital of Angers, Angers Cedex 9, France

    J. F. Hamel

Authors
  1. M. Levaillant
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  2. A. Venara
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  3. H. Damon
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  4. L. Siproudhis
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  5. C. Brochard
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  6. J. F. Hamel
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Contributions

Guarantor of the integrity of the entire study: A Venara. Study concepts and design: JF Hamel, M Levaillant, A Venara. Literature research: M Levaillant, A Venara, H Damon, L Siproudhis, C Brochard. Experimental studies/data analysis: JF Hamel, M Levaillant, A Venara. Statistical analysis: JF Hamel, M Levaillant. Manuscript preparation: M Levaillant, A Venara, H Damon, L Siproudhis, C Brochard, JF Hamel. Manuscript editing: M Levaillant, A Venara, H Damon, L Siproudhis, C Brochard, JF Hamel.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Venara.

Ethics declarations

Statement of ethics approval

As this study does not involve human participants, but instead analyses two administrative databases, informed consent or ethics approval was not required.

Consent to participate

As this study does not involve human participants, but instead analyses two administrative databases, informed consent was not required.

Conflicts of interest

Prof. Venara declares conflicts of interest with Takeda, Coloplast, ThermoFisher, Biom'up, Sanofi-Aventis (consulting and lecturing). The other authors do not declare any conflicts of interest.

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What does the study add to the literature?

The incidence of faecal incontinence (FI) may be underestimated, especially in young people. This study highlights that the incidence of FI:

• increases dramatically between the ages of 20 and 59 in female patients, compared to between the ages of 60 and 79 in male patients,

• depends on the number of proctologists practising in the region of residence in question.

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Levaillant, M., Venara, A., Damon, H. et al. Young women and elderly men at risk of severe faecal incontinence: results of a French nationwide database analysis. Int J Colorectal Dis 38, 131 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-023-04431-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-023-04431-8

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