Prevalence and risk factors of anorectal dysfunction in women with urinary incontinence

Defecatory dysfunction and anal incontinence symptoms among women with pelvic organ prolapse: 5-year retrospective study in a tertiary center

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the prevalence of DD and AI with POP symptoms in females attending a urogynecology clinic, and to identify factors associated with DD and AI in POP symptoms patients.

METHODS

Computer-based medical records of women with POP symptoms attending a urogynecology clinic in a referral tertiary center between January 2016 and December 2020 were reviewed. Demographic data were collected. Selected defecatory dysfunction (DD) and anal incontinence (AI) were recorded. The associations between patient characteristics, site and severity of prolapse, and DD and AI symptoms in POP patients were investigated for identified associated factors.

RESULTS

The mean age of the 754 participants was 65.77 ± 9.44 years. Seven hundred and fifteen (94.83%) were menopause. The prevalence of DD and AI in patients with POP symptoms was 44.03% (332/754) and 42.04% (317/754) according to the PFBQ and medical history records, respectively. Advanced posterior wall prolapse (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.10-2.30) and wider GH (OR1.23, 95% CI 1.05-1.43) were identified as risk factors for DD by multivariate analysis. Additionally, single-compartment prolapse (OR 0.4, 95% CI 0.21-0.76) and a stronger pelvic floor muscle assessed with brink score (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.88-0.98) are protective factors for AI.

CONCLUSION

DD and AI are prevalent among women with POP symptoms who visit a urogynecology clinic. DD should be evaluated in women with POP symptoms especially in women with increased genital hiatus and point Ap beyond the hymen. To prevent AI, women with POP should be encouraged to perform pelvic floor muscle training in order to increase pelvic floor muscle strength.

Mobile Application Based Pelvic Floor Muscle Training for Treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence: An Assessor-Blind, Randomized, Controlled Trial

A first-line treatment for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) for at least three months. The key problem is that patients do not understand the importance of these exercises and their effectiveness. Mobile health apps offer new possibilities to increase treatment adherence. This study compared a reduction in SUI, exercise adherence, and quality of life in PFMT with animation vs. standard instruction. A prospective, single-blind, randomized control trial was collected. SUI patients were randomized into the application or control groups confirmed using a one-hour pad test. In the intervention group, the PFMT application was applied via mobile phone (PFMT with animations, recording system, and reminder system). The standard exercise protocol was similar in both groups. Additional follow-up was conducted at 4, 8, and 12 weeks. A total of 51 participants were randomized to the application (n = 26) and control groups (n = 25), respectively. At the 12-week follow-up, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of SUI cure rate, SUI severity by pad test, and daily SUI episodes from the bladder diary (p-value of 0.695, 0.472, and 0.338, respectively). The mean PFME adherence in the application group was higher than the control group at 8 weeks (66.3 ± 13.6 vs. 52.7 ± 16.6, p = 0.002) and 12 weeks (59.1 ± 13.9 vs. 37.8 ± 11.0, p = 0.001). The application group reported no difference from the conventional PFMT group in terms of improvements in SUI cure rate, symptom severity, and quality of life effects at 12-week follow-up. However, the improvement evaluated by the mean difference in SUI episodes and quality of life effects (ICIQ-UI SF) reported a better outcome in the mobile app group. The PFMT application has been proven to be an effective tool that improves PFMT adherence.

Prevalence of Urinary Incontinence and its Relationship With Sociodemographic and Obstetrical Variables Among Omani Women

Objective

Urinary incontinence (UI) is defined by the International Continence Society as any complaint of involuntary urine leakage. This research study highlights the prevalence, types, and associated factors of UI among women in Oman.

Methodology

A descriptive cross-sectional design was used to collect data using purposive sampling technique from 400 women between 20 and 60 years; who were attending outpatient department of a referral hospital in Oman. Women were assessed using the Questionnaire for Urinary Incontinence Diagnosis to determine the type of UI. The severity and the impact of UI in women were assessed using the female urinary tract symptoms module (ICIQ-UI-SF). Descriptive statistics were used to determine the prevalence and type of UI, and the Chi-square test was used to find the association between UI and sociodemographic and obstetrical variables.

Results

In our study, 28.25% of the women belonged to the age of 50-59 years. The point prevalence (per 1000) of UI among Omani women who were between 20 and 60 years was 44%. In the women who had UI, the majority were having stress UI (41.6%). In the women who had UI, the severity of UI, according to the ICIQ-UI-SF scoring, 15.2% of the women had slight, 50.3% had moderate, 33.1% had severe, and only 1.3% had very intense.

Conclusion

Understanding the prevalence of UI in every community and associated factors is essential for the policy makers and healthcare providers to consider the early diagnosis, prevention, health promotion, and management of UI.

Prevalence of urinary incontinence subtypes in women

Abstract Introduction: Urinary incontinence (UI) is present in the lives of a considerable number of women worldwide. This condition and its associated factors have been sufficiently investigated in recent years, however, prevalence estimates are still not fully clarified, as UI is seen as stigmatizing in a cultural context, and the search for treatment is not always considered by affected individuals. So, this dysfunction and its subtypes must be better understood so that it is possible to alleviate its consequences. Objective: To identify the prevalence of urinary incontinence subtypes, in women from a reference clinic in a public hospital in Curitiba, PR, Brazil. Methods: This was an observational and analytical study, with 227 women affected by UI, evaluated by means of a questionnaire including sociodemographic and general health information, in addition to defining the UI subtype. The SPSS version 25 was used for statistical analysis. Results: The patients presented a mean age of 60.33 ± 12.26 years. Mixed UI was the prevalent subtype (87.2%; n = 198), followed by stress (7.5%; n = 17), and urge (5.3%; n = 12). Among women with mixed UI, 60.6% had only completed elementary school, 59.1% were housewives, and 87.6% had experienced two or more pregnancies. Conclusion: Outlining UI subtypes, and the general and obstetric characteristics of the studied population enables the development of coping strategies for this condition, ranging from planning, diagnosis and treatment, to costs and public health management.

Prevalência dos subtipos de incontinência urinária em mulheres

Resumo Introdução: A incontinência urinária (IU) está presente na vida de considerável número de mulheres no mundo. Essa condição e fatores associados a ela vêm sendo suficientemente investigados nos últimos anos, no entanto, as estimativas de prevalência ainda não são totalmente esclarecidas visto que a IU é vista como estigmatizante em âmbito cultural e a procura por tratamento nem sempre é considerada por indivíduos acometidos. Torna-se importante, portanto, esclarecer cada vez mais essa disfunção e seus subtipos para que seja possível amenizar suas consequências. Objetivo: Identificar a prevalência dos subtipos de IU em mulheres de um ambulatório de referência em um hospital público de Curitiba, PR. Métodos: Estudo observacional e analítico com 227 mulheres com IU, avaliadas por meio de um questionário para coleta de informações sociodemográficas e de saúde geral, além da definição do subtipo de IU. Utilizou-se o pacote estatístico SPSS versão 25 para a análise estatística. Resultados: A idade média da amostra foi de 60,33 ± 12,26 anos. IU mista foi o subtipo mais prevalente (87,2%; n = 198), seguida por esforço (7,5%; n = 17) e urgência (5,3%; n = 12). Das mulheres com IU mista, 60,6% tinham apenas o ensino fundamental, 59,1% eram donas de casa e 89,4% passaram por duas ou mais gestações. Conclusão: Delinear os subtipos de IU e as características gerais e obstétricas da população estudada permite que sejam elaboradas estratégias de enfrentamento desta condição, que vão desde planejamento envolvendo diagnóstico e tratamento até custos e gestão de saúde pública.

Double incontinence: associated factors and impact on the quality of life of women attended at a health referral service

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the prevalence, associated factors, and impact on quality of life of double incontinence in a group of women with urinary incontinence. Method: A cross-sectional study was performed, including female patients with urinary or double incontinence (urinary and fecal incontinence) treated at a tertiary hospital from the public healthcare system. Information about sociodemographic and clinical characteristics was collected, and quality of life was assessed using validated questionnaires. The Mann-Whitney, Chi-square, and Fisher tests were used to evaluate the association between the variables and the types of dysfunction (urinary or double incontinence) and a worse general health perception. Results: Of 227 incontinent women included in the study, 120 (52,9%) were older individuals. The prevalence of double incontinence was 14.1% (32 patients). Double incontinence was associated with a higher number of comorbidities (p-value=0.04), polypharmacy (p-value=0.04), and rectocele (p-valor=0.02). Higher BMI (p-value=0.02) and number of comorbidities (p-value=0.05), but not double incontinence (p-value=0.36), were associated with low general health perception scores. Conclusion: the prevalence of double incontinence was different from other studies conducted in similar scenarios. The group of women included in the study presented low general health perception scores, but this was not associated with the presence of double incontinence. A higher number of comorbidities was associated with both double incontinence and a lower general health perception.