title: The results of a 24-h pad test in Brazilian women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The International Continence Society (ICS) adopted 1.3 g as the normative value for the 24-h pad test. We hypothesized that this cutoff value may not be valid for women who live in countries with high temperatures.
  
  
  METHODS
  We documented the 24-h pad test values of continent women in Brazil and investigated the factors that can influence in vaginal humidity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sample consisted of 257 participants. The temperatures ranged from 19°C to 27.8°C. The median increase in the weight of the pad was 1.9 g (1.4-3.0 g, 95th percentile 4.4 g). Pad test results differed significantly between pre- and postmenopausal women (p = 0.026). There was a significant difference in the pad weights of women who use hormone therapy (p = 0.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The value of the 24-h pad test established by the ICS was not valid for the investigated sample. Environmental conditions, menopausal status, and use of hormone therapy can interfere with the values of the pad test.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Section of Urogynecology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Rua Perdigão Malheiros, 195/901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil, CEP 30380-050. elyonara@ufmg.br
authors.forename: Elyonara Mello
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gontijo
authors.forename: Camila Teixeira
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Vaz
authors.forename: Elza
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baracho
authors.forename: Andrea Moura Rodrigues Maciel
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: da Fonseca
authors.forename: Marilene Vale de Castro
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.forename: Agnaldo Lopes Silva
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Filho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D003950:Diagnostic Techniques, Urological / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016496:Incontinence Pads; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014554:Urination / Q000502:physiology*; D014621:Vagina / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult