title: The association between obesity and stage II or greater prolapse.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: Blair B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Washington
authors.forename: Elisabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Erekson
authors.forename: Nadine C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Kassis
authors.forename: Deborah L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Myers
mesh_terms: 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*