title: Effects of age on levator function and morphometry of the levator hiatus in women with pelvic floor disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Epidemiological data supports the hypothesis that ageing is a risk factor for pelvic organ prolapse. In this study, we intended to determine the effect of age on levator function and morphometry in women with pelvic floor disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred seventy-five patients underwent an interview, physical examination and transperineal ultrasound. Clinical assessment included palpation using the Modified Oxford Scale. Ultrasonography was performed to diagnose levator defects and assess levator hiatal morphometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pelvic floor muscle strength was weakly associated with patient age (r = -0.25, p < 0.01). This remained true after accounting for the confounders parity and levator defects. Morphometry of the levator hiatus was weakly positively correlated with age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ageing seems to have a limited effect on contractility and distensibility of the pelvic floor muscle. The small effect of ageing results in reduced contraction strength and increased hiatal diameters. This effect is partly confounded by parity and levator defects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, GROW, School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, P.O. Box 5800, 6202 AZ, Maastricht, The Netherlands. m.weemhoff@mumc.nl
authors.forename: Mirjam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weemhoff
authors.forename: Ka Lai
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Shek
authors.forename: Hans P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Dietz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D056887:Pelvic Organ Prolapse / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult