Prevalence of incontinence in women with benign joint hypermobility syndrome

The objective of this study was to determine whether the prevalence of urinary and anal incontinence in women with benign joint hypermobility syndrome (BJHS) was more than in a control group without this condition. The International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF) and the Manchester Health Questionnaire were sent to 30 patients with benign joint hypermobility syndrome and 30 healthy women without this condition and results were compared. It was found out that the prevalence of urinary incontinence in the study group we surveyed was 18/30 and in the control group was 9/30 (60 vs 30%; p=0.037). Twenty-three percent (7/30) of the women with BJHS had a problem with anal incontinence but none of the controls had problems with anal incontinence (23 vs 0%; p=0.01). Therefore, the prevalence of both urinary and anal incontinence appears to be significantly higher in women with BJHS when compared to women without this condition.