A randomised controlled trial of a code-word enuresis alarm

Objective: To compare a novel code-word alarm with a commercially available wireless alarm for treating enuresis.

Setting: A tertiary paediatric centre.

Patients: Children aged 6-18 with at least 3 wet nights per week in the previous 6 months referred by doctors.

Outcomes: Primary outcome: the proportion who achieved a full response (14 consecutive dry nights) by 16 weeks. Secondary outcomes: change in frequency of wetting, duration of alarm training, percentage of wet nights that the child woke to the alarm, adherence to treatment, adverse events and satisfaction with treatment.

Results: Of the 353 participants, 176 were assigned to the code-word alarm and 177 to control. At 16 weeks, 54% (95% CI 47% to 61%) in the experimental group and 47% (95% CI 40% to 55%) in the control group had achieved a full response (p=0.22), with 74% and 66%, respectively, attaining a 50% or more reduction in wetting frequency (p=0.14). The experimental group woke more often than the control group (median percentage of waking 88% vs 77%, p=0.003) and had a greater reduction in wet nights (median reduction of 10 vs 9 nights per fortnight). Fewer in the experimental group discontinued therapy before achieving a full response (27% vs 37% discontinued, p=0.04). There were no significant differences in relapse rates at 6 months, adverse events or satisfaction between the two alarms.

Conclusions: Although the code-word alarm increased waking, no difference in full response rates was demonstrated between the two alarms.

Trial registration number: ACTRN12609000070235.