Abstract
Objective: Obesity is an important health problem with the potential to cause secondary diseases in children. In these patients, increased intra-abdominal and intra-vesical pressure leads to changes in voiding physiology. In addition, insulin and glucose metabolism disorders can also affect lower urinary system functions. However, the relationship between obesity and sleep disorders is also known.
Materials and Methods: The questionnaire, which was prepared to determine voiding and sleep disorders, was applied to 100 obese pediatric patients aged between 9 and 18 and 100 normal weight healthy individuals in the similar age group.
Results: Daytime urinary incontinence was present in 17% of the patient group and 2% of the control group. Nocturnal enuresis was present in 25% of the patient group and 2% of the control group. The frequency of overactive bladder was also higher in the patient group compared to the healthy controls (15% and 5%, respectively; p<0.05). In addition, a higher rate of restless sleep at night, snoring and tiredness during the day were determined in the patient group. However, significantly increased behavioral disorders and learning disabilities were found in this group.
Conclusion: This is the first study to show a higher prevalence of decreased sleep quality and voiding dysfunction in obese children compared to the healthy group. Pathologies that occur due to the negative effects of obesity on many systems reveal the necessity of evaluating the disease as a syndrome in childhood. Multidisciplinary approach will increase the success of treatment in these patients.