[Fecal incontinence in postmenopausal women: prevalence, severity and associated factors].
BACKGROUND
Fecal incontinence occurs more frequently in the female population and it becomes more prevalent with increasing age. There are few studies that have assessed the prevalence and severity of postmenopausal women.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate fecal incontinence.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was performed on 100 postmenopausal women over the age of 45. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were evaluated, and a descriptive analysis of these characteristics was carried out. The prevalence of fecal incontinence was estimated. St. Mark's incontinence score was applied to study the severity of symptoms associated with fecal incontinence. The score was then categorized according to the tertile and symptom severity was classified as mild, moderate or severe incontinence. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to study the association between fecal incontinence and its likely determinants, employing the prevalence ratio. Confidence interval was set at 95%.


RESULTS
The mean age of the patients was 58.9 +/- 5.9 years (range, 46-76 years). The prevalence rate was 15% for fecal incontinence. Of incontinent patients, 60% had mild incontinence. After multivariate analysis, factors associated with fecal incontinence was history of forceps delivery (prevalence ratio: 7.80; 95% confidence interval:2.38-25.55).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of fecal incontinence was high in postmenopausal women. Data suggest that most women presented mild fecal incontinence. The history of forceps delivery was associated with fecal incontinence.
de Oliveira
Simone Caetano Morale
SC
Departamento de Tocoginecologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP.
Pinto-Neto
Aarão Mendes
AM
Conde
Délio Marques
DM
Góes
Juvenal Ricardo Navarro
JR
Santos-Sá
Danielle
D
Costa-Paiva
Lúcia
L
D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors