The impact of flatal incontinence on quality of life.
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.
Steinberg
Adam C
AC
Division of Urogynecology, Hartford Hospital University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Hartford, CT, USA. acsteinberg06@yahoo.com
Collins
Sarah A
SA
O'Sullivan
David M
DM
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