Observational studies report prospective associations of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric traits with paediatric incontinence and constipation, but unmeasured and residual confounding may limit observational measures. Here, we use a prospective birth cohort study to investigate whether common variant genetic liability for a range of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric conditions are associated with paediatric incontinence and constipation. We used data from 7,857 participants from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) with data on genotype, incontinence, and constipation, and calculated Polygenic risk scores (PRS) for neurodevelopmental traits (ADHD, autism, intelligence) and psychiatric conditions (anxiety, depression, and OCD). Incontinence subtypes (daytime urinary incontinence [DUI], enuresis [any bedwetting and enuresis subtypes: monosymptomatic, non-monosymptomatic], faecal incontinence), and constipation, were assessed by parental reports at age 9 years and self-reports at age 14. PRS for ADHD (OR=1.14, 95% CI, 1.01-1.29, unadjusted p=0.040) and depression (OR=1.09, 95% CI, 1.00–1.20, unadjusted p=0.063) were associated with DUI at age 9. PRS for autism (OR=1.19, 95% CI, 1.02-1.41, unadjusted p=0.032) and intelligence (OR=1.17, 95%, 0.99-1.38, unadjusted p=.06l) were associated with DUI at age 14. PRS for ADHD (OR=1.13, 95% CI, 1.03-1.24, unadjusted p=0.008) were associated with constipation at age 9. Within enuresis subtypes, PRS for autism were associated with MNE at age 9 (OR=1.15, 95% CI, 1.03–1.28, unadjusted p=0.012), but not NMNE (OR=0.93, 95% CI, 0.79–1.18, unadjusted p=0.335). No associations survived false discovery rate adjustment. The findings add to existing evidence that common variant genetic liability for neurodevelopmental traits and psychiatric conditions could be associated with paediatric incontinence and constipation.

Question Are common variant genetic liabilities for neurodevelopmental and psychiatric conditions associated with paediatric incontinence and constipation in a population-based cohort?

Findings We found some evidence that polygenic risk scores (PRS) for ADHD, autism, intelligence, and depression may be associated with daytime urinary incontinence. PRS for ADHD were also associated with constipation and enuresis and PRS for autism and depression were weakly associated with constipation. None of the associations survived adjustment for false discovery rate.

Meaning Common variant genetic liabilities for ADHD, autism, intelligence, and depression could be risk factors for developing paediatric incontinence and constipation.

The authors have declared no competing interest.

This project was funded by the Medical Research Council (Integrative Epidemiology Unit), as part of Oliver Bastiani s PhD studentship, which also covered the cost for his access to ALSPAC. During this study, Jane Hvarregaard Christensen was supported by the Misses Anna and Dagny Hjerrild s Foundation. This work is supported by funding from the Medical Research Council (grant ref: MR/V033581/1: Mental Health and Incontinence). The UK Medical Research Council and Wellcome (Grant ref: 217065/Z/19/Z) and the University of Bristol provide core support for ALSPAC. Genomewide genotyping data was generated by Sample Logistics and Genotyping Facilities at Wellcome Sanger Institute and LabCorp (Laboratory Corporation of America) using support from 23andMe. This publication is the work of the authors, and they will serve as guarantors for the content of this paper. A comprehensive list of grants funding is available on the ALSPAC website (http://www.bristol.ac.uk/alspac/external/documents/grant-acknowledgements.pdf). The funder had no role in the study design; collection, analysis and interpretation of data; writing of the report; and the decision to submit the article for publication.

I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained.

Yes

The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below:

The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) Ethics and Law Committee gave ethical approval for this study.

I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals.

Yes

I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance).

Yes

I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable.

Yes

Due to ALSPAC regulations, we cannot provide access to this data but if others wish to access this data they may contact the involved cohort study (ALSPAC) at https://www.bristol.ac.uk/alspac/researchers/access/, where they may apply to use this data also.