Behavioral factors for predicting severity of enuresis and treatment responses in different compliance groups receiving behavioral therapy

Objective: To investigate behavioral factors for predicting severity of nocturnal enuresis and compare response rates in different compliance groups of behavioral interventions.

Methods: Three hundred eleven children diagnosed with nocturnal enuresis were enrolled. This study was conducted at Beijing Children’s Hospital affiliated to the Capital Medical University from September 2016 to December 2016. Correlation of severity of enuresis and behavioral factors was investigated. All patients were treated with desmopressin based on behavioral interventions. After two month treatment, the patients were grouped according to the compliance of behavioral therapy. Then response rates in different compliance groups were compared.

Results: Multivariate analysis revealed stool frequency, drinking water before going to bed, awaking the child to toilet at night, and appetite were independent risk factors affecting the severity of enuresis. The complete response rate of enuresis and partial response rate in full compliance group are higher than those of partial compliance and non-compliance group (21.9% vs 11.3%, 78.1% vs 59.8%; 21.9% vs 0%, 78.1% vs 49.1%; P<0.01). The complete response rate and partial response rate of partial compliance group are higher than those of the non-compliance group (P<0.01).

Conclusions: Stool frequency, drinking water before going to bed, awaking the child to toilet at night, and appetite are independent predictive factors affecting the severity of enuresis. Good compliance of behavioral interventions may have a crucial role for better therapeutic outcomes.