Abstract

GOMES, Catarina Azevedo; HENRIQUES, Sílvia; TAVARES, Alexandra  and  FONSECA, Clara. Enuresis in Portuguese children: A study of its prevalence and association with sleep habits and nightmares. Rev Port Med Geral Fam [online]. 2012, vol.28, n.5, pp.338-342. ISSN 2182-5173.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of enuresis among Portuguese children aged 5 and 6 years and to test the association between enuresis and sleep habits and nightmares. Study design: Cross-sectional study Setting: Northern Portugal Participants: Children aged 5 and 6 years, registered in 30 health centers in northern Portugal Methods: A stratified non-proportional random sample of 1599 children was selected. Parents or caretakers were asked about enuresis, sleeping habits, and nightmares in their children, and about a family history of enuresis in both parents. The chi-square and t-Student tests were used for data analysis. Crude and adjusted odds ratio were calculated using the logistic regression model. Results: The overall prevalence of enuresis was found to be 16,4% (95% CI 14,6-18,2). There was a significant association between enuresis and male gender, a family history of enuresis, and nightmares. No association was found between enuresis and sleeping habits (sleeping alone, sleeping with the lights on, sleeping with transitional objects, or the number of hours of sleep). Conclusions: The prevalence of enuresis found here is similar to the prevalence reported in other studies using a similar definition. It is associated with male gender, nightmares and a family history of enuresis. We found no association between enuresis and sleeping habits, although there may be an information bias.

Keywords : Enuresis; Prevalence; Child; Sleep Disorders; Dreams.

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