The association between obesity and stage II or greater prolapse

Objective

We sought to evaluate the association between obesity and vaginal prolapse as well as pelvic organ prolapse symptoms.

Study Design

This was a cross-sectional study of women referred for urogynecologic care. The exposure was obesity and outcome, stage ≥ II prolapse. Secondary outcomes were symptom bother and disease-specific quality of life.

Results

Our study included 721 women. No difference in stage ≥ II prolapse was observed between obese (n/N = 258/721 [35.8%]) and nonobese (n/N = 463/721 [64.2%]) women (50.8% vs 52.7%; P = .62). Obesity was associated with increased distress on the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20 (100 [±57.3] vs 87.4 [±53.1]; P = .003) due to higher scores on the Colorectal-Anal Distress Inventory-8 (22.9 [±21.5] vs 18.3 [±19.7]; P = .003) and the Urinary Distress Inventory-6 (48.8 [±27] vs 42.4 [±26.1]; P = .002).

Conclusion

Obesity was not associated with stage ≥ II prolapse but was associated with increased pelvic floor symptoms secondary to urinary and anal incontinence subscales.

Key words: obesity, pelvic organ prolapse, prolapse symptom bother, quality of life