American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 201, Issue 5 , Pages 539.e1-539.e3, November 2009

The impact of flatal incontinence on quality of life

Presented at the 35th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society of Gynecologic Surgeons, New Orleans, LA, March 30-April 1, 2009.

  • Adam C. Steinberg, DO

      Affiliations

    • Division of Urogynecology, Hartford Hospital University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Hartford, CT
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprints: Adam C. Steinberg, DO, FACOG, FACS, Division of Urogynecology, 85 Seymour St., Suite 500, Hartford, CT 06106
    • ,
  • Sarah A. Collins, MD

      Affiliations

    • Division of Urogynecology, Hartford Hospital University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Hartford, CT
    • ,
  • David M. O'Sullivan, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Research Administration, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT

Received 30 December 2008; received in revised form 1 July 2009; accepted 16 July 2009. published online 31 August 2009.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of flatal incontinence (FI) on quality of life

Study Design

This was a retrospective analysis of 678 consecutive new patients who were evaluated over an 8-month period. The Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Inventory–20 and Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire short form–7 were evaluated to compare those women with and without FI. The Student t test and logistic regression were used to determine the impact of FI.

Results

The 160 women with FI were older (P < .001), had greater parity (P < .001), were more likely to experience chronic constipation (P = .005), and had more vaginal deliveries (P = .002) than those women without FI. Women with FI scored higher for bother on the Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Inventory–20 (94.1 ± 46.3 vs 64.1 ± 41.9; P < .001), and on the Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire short form–7 (46.2 ± 50.9 vs 36.2 ± 43.9; P = .041).

Conclusion

Flatal incontinence negatively impacts women.

Key words: flatal incontinence, pelvic floor distress inventory, quality of life

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 Cite this article as: Steinberg AC, Collins SA, O'Sullivan DM. The impact of flatal incontinence on quality of life. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2009;201:539.e1-3.

 Financial support was provided by Hartford Hospital Institutional Grant SG-129512.

PII: S0002-9378(09)00834-5

doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2009.07.050

American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 201, Issue 5 , Pages 539.e1-539.e3, November 2009

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