An epidemiological study of primary nocturnal enuresis in Chinese children and adolescents

Aims: To assess the prevalence of primary nocturnal enuresis (PNE) and its risk factors in Chinese children and adolescents in the central areas of mainland China. Methods: A cross-sectional study of PNE was performed by distributing 11799 self-administered questionnaires to parents of 5-18-year-old students in 32 - schools of Henan province China. The questionnaire asked about sociodemographic data, PNE data, physical or psychological disorders, and family stressors. The PNE children were divided into a pediatric group (age 5-12) and an adolescent group (age 13-18). Results: The response rate was 88% (10383/11799) in which 10088 (85.5%) were qualified to enter the final statistical analysis. The overall prevalence of PNE was 4.07% (95% CI 3.68-4.46) and that of marked PNE was 1.46% (95% CI 1.23-1.69). PNE was significantly more in boys than in girls. The prevalence decreased with age without gender bias. Of all enuretic children, 21.17% had daytime urinary symptoms and 22.87% had a positive family history. Only 6.08% of PNE had sought professional help. The episodic severity of PNE, associated daytime symptoms, positive family history, and seeking for professional help in adolescent group were significantly higher than those of pediatric group. Age, inhabitation (living in rural or urban areas), arousal dysfunction, associated daytime symptoms and family history were found to be significant predictors of marked PNE. Among PNE cases with a positive family history, there was no significant difference in the familial distribution between boys and girls. Conclusions: The prevalence of age-related PNE from Chinese school children is lower than those reported from western countries and other Asian countries. Age, inhabitation (rural or urban), arousal dysfunction, associated daytime symptom and family history are significant as predictors of marked PNE. The misconceptions among Chinese parents require health education intervention. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.