[Evaluation of anthropometric development in patients with enuresis]

Introduction: An epidemiological study was conducted to assess the anthropometric development in children diagnosed with primary monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis, depending on the treatment option selected.

Patients and methods: A longitudinal series of cases including 548 children aged 5-10 years. Anthropometric parameters of children were assessed at diagnosis, and after one and two years of treatment.

Results: Children with primary monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis showed no anthropometric changes when their data were compared to the standard deviation score of height, weight, and body mass index (BMI). Overall, no changes were seen in the above mentioned parameters after two years of treatment for enuresis (except for a weight standard deviation score (SDS) decrease in boys). We only found a decrease in the size and weight in those children undergoing behavioral therapy with or without an alarm, findings that, given the limitations of the study, were not considered significant. The odds ratio for cure after one and two years of treatment was 1.41 (95% CI: 0.85-2.34) and 1.52 (95% CI: 0.86-2.70) for desmopressin (and watchful waiting) as compared to all other options.

Conclusions: In this study, children had SDS values of height, weight, and BMI similar to healthy children of the same age and sex before and after treatment for primary monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis. Desmopressin appeared to increase the probability of cure after one and two years of treatment, however these data should be corroborated in future randomized clinical trials.