The association between obesity and stage II or greater prolapse.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to evaluate the association between obesity and vaginal prolapse as well as pelvic organ prolapse symptoms.


METHODS
This was a cross-sectional study of women referred for urogynecologic care. The exposure was obesity and outcome, stage>or=II prolapse. Secondary outcomes were symptom bother and disease-specific quality of life.


RESULTS
Our study included 721 women. No difference in stage>or=II prolapse was observed between obese (n/N 58/721 [35.8%]) and nonobese (n/N=463/721 [64.2%]) women (50.8% vs 52.7%; P=.62). Obesity was associated with increased distress on the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20 (100 [+/-57.3] vs 87.4 [+/-53.1]; P=.003) due to higher scores on the Colorectal-Anal Distress Inventory-8 (22.9 [+/-21.5] vs 18.3 [+/-19.7]; P=.003) and the Urinary Distress Inventory-6 (48.8 [+/-27] vs 42.4 [+/-26.1]; P=.002).


CONCLUSIONS
Obesity was not associated with stage>or=II prolapse but was associated with increased pelvic floor symptoms secondary to urinary and anal incontinence subscales.
Washington
Blair B
BB
Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women and Infants Hospital, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
Erekson
Elisabeth A
EA
Kassis
Nadine C
NC
Myers
Deborah L
DL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000453:epidemiology; D014596:Uterine Prolapse / Q000453:epidemiology*