One of Three Older Women Suffer with Incontinence As
Do One-Quarter of All Women
By the time women become 80 about half battle these
pelvic floor disorders
Sept.
16, 2008 More than one out of three older women suffer from urinary or
fecal incontinence, according to a new study in the Journal of the
American Medical Association. These disorders become more prevalent with
increasing age and weight, the researchers found, but nearly one-quarter
of women of all ages report at least one of these pelvic floor
disorders.
Pelvic floor disorders include urinary and fecal
incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse (when a pelvic organ, such as the
uterus, drops [prolapses] from its normal spot and pushes against the
walls of the vagina), and other sensory and emptying abnormalities of
the lower urinary and gastrointestinal tracts.
Because no single national population-based survey
has assessed the prevalence of major pelvic floor disorders in U.S.
women, the national burden related to these diseases remains unknown,
the researchers say.
Ingrid Nygaard, M.D., M.S., of the University of
Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, and colleagues conducted a
study to provide prevalence estimates of symptomatic pelvic floor
disorders in women.
The study included 1,961 nonpregnant women (age 20
years or older) who participated in the 2005-2006 National Health and
Nutrition Examination Survey, a nationally representative survey of the
U.S. population.
Women were interviewed in their homes and then
underwent standardized physical examinations in a mobile examination
center. Urinary and fecal incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse
symptoms were assessed.
The researchers found that overall, 23.7 percent of
women reported symptoms of at least 1 pelvic floor disorder.
Of these,
● 15.7 percent experienced urinary incontinence,
● 9.0 percent experienced fecal incontinence and
● 2.9 percent experienced symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse.
The proportion of women who reported at least 1
pelvic floor disorder increased with age:
● 9.7 percent in women age 20 to 39 years,
● 26.5 percent in women age 40 to 59 years,
● 36.8 percent in women age 60 to 79 years, and
● 49.7 percent in women age 80 years or older).
Weight, Child Birth Clearly Factors
Overweight
and obese women were more likely to report at least 1 pelvic floor
disorder than normal weight women: prevalence was 15.1 percent for
underweight/normal weight, 26.3 percent for overweight, and 30.4 percent
for obese women.
Also, the more children a woman had given birth to
increased the likelihood of at least 1 pelvic floor disorder.
Race/ethnicity and education were not significantly
associated with having a pelvic floor disorder.
These data represent the first nationwide,
population-based estimates of the 3 primary pelvic floor disorders in
women in the United States derived from a single source, the authors
write.
By 2030, more than one-fifth of women will be 65
years or older. As the population of older women increases, the national
burden related to pelvic floor disorders in terms of health care costs,
lost productivity, and decreased quality of life will be substantial.
Given the burden pelvic floor disorders place on
U.S. women and the health care system, research is needed to further
understand their pathophysiology, prevention, and treatment.
The study is in tomorrows issue, September 17, of
the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Keep up with the latest news for senior citizens, baby
boomers
Sept.
16, 2008 More than one out of three older women suffer from urinary or
fecal incontinence, according to a new study in the Journal of the
American Medical Association. These disorders become more prevalent with
increasing age and weight, the researchers found, but nearly one-quarter
of women of all ages report at least one of these pelvic floor
disorders.
Medicare's coverage of tests for colorectal cancer.
Overweight
and obese women were more likely to report at least 1 pelvic floor
disorder than normal weight women: prevalence was 15.1 percent for
underweight/normal weight, 26.3 percent for overweight, and 30.4 percent
for obese women. 