Abstract
ObjectiveThis study was designed to examine the relationship between fecal incontinence and accelerated aging, determine its association with mortality risk, and evaluate whether accelerated aging mediates the link between fecal incontinence and mortality.MethodsThis cohort study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Accelerated aging was quantified using phenotypic age acceleration. Multivariable linear regression models, Cox proportional hazards models, and mediation analysis were employed to assess the associations between fecal incontinence, phenotypic age acceleration, and mortality.ResultsAmong 12,581 United States adults, the overall prevalence of fecal incontinence was 8.38%. Fecal incontinence was positively associated with phenotypic age acceleration (β: 0.98, 95% confidence interval: 0.43, 1.58) and increased risks of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio: 1.24, 95% confidence interval: 1.07, 1.44) and cardiovascular mortality (hazard ratio: 1.28, 95% confidence interval: 1.01, 1.63). Mediation analysis indicated that phenotypic age acceleration accounted for 9.56% of the effect of fecal incontinence on all-cause mortality.ConclusionAccelerated aging partially mediated the association between fecal incontinence and all-cause mortality in the United States population. These findings suggest new pathways for mitigating the broader health impacts of fecal incontinence.