title: The impact of flatal incontinence on quality of life.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of flatal incontinence (FI) on quality of life
  
  
  METHODS
  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).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Flatal incontinence negatively impacts women.
authors.affiliation: Division of Urogynecology, Hartford Hospital University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Hartford, CT, USA. acsteinberg06@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Adam C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Steinberg
authors.forename: Sarah A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005414:Flatulence; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult