Journal article
Pelvic floor symptoms and lifestyle factors in older women
Journal of women's health (2002), Vol.14(2), pp.128-136
03/15/2005
DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2005.14.128
PMID: 15775730
Abstract
<p>OBJECTIVES: To measure the prevalence of pelvic floor symptoms in noncare-seeking older women and the association between symptoms and lifestyle factors. METHODS: Women enrolled at one site of the Women's Health Initiative Hormone Therapy clinical trial completed a questionnaire, modified from the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory, on bladder, bowel, and prolapse symptoms. Individual symptoms and symptom groups were examined in a cross-sectional analysis. RESULTS: In the 297 women who participated, mean age was 68.2 years, mean body mass index (BMI) was 30.2 kg/m(2), and median vaginal parity was 3. The median number of symptoms endorsed was 3 (range 0-18). The most prevalent symptoms were stress urinary incontinence (51.2%), urge urinary incontinence (49.2%), urinary frequency (29.0%), straining for bowel movements (25.0%), a sense of incomplete bowel movements (34.8%), and involuntary loss of gas (33.0%). The symptom groups most frequently endorsed were stress urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, obstructive voiding, and obstructive colorectal groups (>/=1 symptom per group in 51.2%, 61.3%, 40.8%, and 48.3%, respectively). In analyses adjusted for age, BMI, caffeine ingesting, smoking, and exercise, older women more frequently reported incomplete bladder emptying (adjusted OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.3, 9.2), weak urinary stream (adjusted OR 6.4, 95% CI 2.0, 20.0), intermittent urinary stream (adjusted OR 4.0, 95% CI 1.6, 10.4), and a feeling of incomplete bowel movements (adjusted OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.2, 5.9). Women who exercised weekly had less fecal urgency (adjusted OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.2, 0.8). Coffee drinking was associated with difficulty emptying the bladder (adjusted OR 8.6, 95% CI 1.4, 55.0) and weak stream (adjusted OR 5.3, 95% CI 1.5, 19.0). CONCLUSIONS: Pelvic floor symptoms, especially urinary incontinence and irritative and obstructive urinary and bowel symptoms, are common in older women. Some symptoms are associated with potentially modifiable lifestyle factors.</p>
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Pelvic floor symptoms and lifestyle factors in older women
- Creators
- Catherine S. Bradley - University of IowaColleen M. Kennedy - University of IowaIngrid E Nygaard
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of women's health (2002), Vol.14(2), pp.128-136
- DOI
- 10.1089/jwh.2005.14.128
- PMID
- 15775730
- NLM abbreviation
- J Womens Health (Larchmt)
- ISSN
- 1540-9996
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 03/15/2005
- Academic Unit
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Record Identifier
- 9983557404502771
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