Janina Brucker1, Ina Wagner1, Gottfried Rudofsky2,3, Geraldine Rauch4,5, Christof Sohn1, Kerstin A Brocker6. 1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 440, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany. 2. Department of Internal Medicine I and Clinical Chemistry, Medical School, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany. 3. Stoffwechselzentrum Kantonsspital Olten, Baslerstr. 140, 4600, Olten, Switzerland. 4. Institute of Medical Biometry and Informatics, Medical School, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 130.3, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany. 5. Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Medical Biometry and Clinical Epidemiology, Reinhardtstr. 58, 10117, Berlin, Germany. 6. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 440, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany. kerstin.brocker@med.uni-heidelberg.de.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To evaluate the occurrence of urogynecological symptoms in obese women treated in a university outpatient clinic for obesity, setting a focus on younger women. METHODS: In this explorative, prospective, cross-sectional, single-center, multidisciplinary clinical trial, all consecutively recruited women received the Prolapse Quality of Life questionnaire (P-QOL) for data acquisition. The total study population (TSP) and a subgroup (SG) aged 18-49 years were evaluated descriptively regarding symptom demonstration. RESULTS: Of the TSP (n = 166, mean age 40.2, standard deviation (SD) 12.98, mean body mass index (BMI) 45 kg/m2, SD 8.44) 105 (63%) and of the SG (n = 125, mean age 34.6, SD 9.29, mean BMI 44.9 kg/m2, SD 8.26) 72 (58%) women suffered from urinary incontinence (UI) being most impaired by stress urinary incontinence (SUI; TSP: 25%; SG: 27%) and least by urge urinary incontinence (UUI; TSP: 15%; SG: 11%). A significant correlation in the TSP between UI and age was detectable (p < 0.001, r φ = 0.37), but not between UI and BMI (p = 0.296, r φ = 0.08). The highest QOL impairment is detected for the domain general health perceptions [GHP; TSP & SG score >50 (score scale 0-100)]. Women with UI are significantly more affected than women with pelvic organ prolapse (GHP UI: TSP p = 0.04, SG p = 0.037; GHP POP: TSP p = 0.081, SG p = 0.659). CONCLUSIONS: A remarkable number of young obese women mentioned urogynecological symptoms and quality-of-life impairment. The P-QOL questionnaire proved to be an easily applicable tool to scan for concerned obese women. Its use in non-urogynecological departments, as performed, enables an early introduction of symptomatic women to urogynecologists, possibly preventing future growing urogynecological health issues.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the occurrence of urogynecological symptoms in obesewomen treated in a university outpatient clinic for obesity, setting a focus on younger women. METHODS: In this explorative, prospective, cross-sectional, single-center, multidisciplinary clinical trial, all consecutively recruited women received the Prolapse Quality of Life questionnaire (P-QOL) for data acquisition. The total study population (TSP) and a subgroup (SG) aged 18-49 years were evaluated descriptively regarding symptom demonstration. RESULTS: Of the TSP (n = 166, mean age 40.2, standard deviation (SD) 12.98, mean body mass index (BMI) 45 kg/m2, SD 8.44) 105 (63%) and of the SG (n = 125, mean age 34.6, SD 9.29, mean BMI 44.9 kg/m2, SD 8.26) 72 (58%) women suffered from urinary incontinence (UI) being most impaired by stress urinary incontinence (SUI; TSP: 25%; SG: 27%) and least by urge urinary incontinence (UUI; TSP: 15%; SG: 11%). A significant correlation in the TSP between UI and age was detectable (p < 0.001, r φ = 0.37), but not between UI and BMI (p = 0.296, r φ = 0.08). The highest QOL impairment is detected for the domain general health perceptions [GHP; TSP & SG score >50 (score scale 0-100)]. Women with UI are significantly more affected than women with pelvic organ prolapse (GHP UI: TSP p = 0.04, SG p = 0.037; GHP POP: TSP p = 0.081, SG p = 0.659). CONCLUSIONS: A remarkable number of young obesewomen mentioned urogynecological symptoms and quality-of-life impairment. The P-QOL questionnaire proved to be an easily applicable tool to scan for concerned obesewomen. Its use in non-urogynecological departments, as performed, enables an early introduction of symptomatic women to urogynecologists, possibly preventing future growing urogynecological health issues.