An evaluation of the risk factors for developing PFD in a group of women with and without diagnosed PFD in a Dutch university hospital using the modified Dutch version of the UR-Choice and to determine which risk factors were independently related to PFD: a cross-sectional and feasibility study

Abstract

Aims

The principal aim is (a) evaluating the risk factors for pelvic floor dysfunction (PDF) in a group of women with and without diagnosed PFD in a Dutch University hospital using the modified Dutch version of the UR-Choice and (b) determining which risk factors are independently related to PFD.The secondary aim is to evaluate the feasibility of the modified Dutch version of the UR-Choice.

Methods

This cross-sectional study including women aged between 35 and 80 years in a university hospital with or without diagnosed PFD. Women filled out the modified Dutch version of the UR-Choice. Univariate logistic regression is used to identify the risk factors for PFD. Multivariate logistic regression with backward selection procedure is used to determine which risk factors are independently related to PFD.

Results

One hundred fourteen women of which 62 with and 52 without the PFD filled out the questionnaire. Both groups significantly differ in age. The factors “Caucasian race”, “height more than 160 m.”, “BMI before pregnancy more than 25 kg/m2”, “mother and or sister presence of PFD”, “more than 2 children” and a “weight of the first child more than 4000 gram” had a positive correlation with PFD (P<0,05). The factors “urinary incontinence (UI) before pregnancy” and ”age more than 35 year at first delivery” had a negative correlation with PFD (P<0,05). In the multivariate logistic regression only ”more than 2 children” is found to be independently related to PFD.

Conclusion

This study shows that six factors of the modified Dutch version of the UR-Choice have a positive correlation with PFD. Only the factor “more than two children” is independently related to PFD.

Clinical Relevance

A predictive questionnaire is relevant for early identification of women at high risk for developing PFD.