title: The influence of age on posterior pelvic floor dysfunction in women with obstructed defecation syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Knowledge of risk factors is particularly useful to prevent or manage pelvic floor dysfunction but although a number of such factors have been proposed, results remain inconsistent. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of aging on the incidence of posterior pelvic floor disorders in women with obstructed defecation syndrome evaluated using echodefecography.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 334 patients with obstructed defecation were evaluated using echodefecography in order to quantify posterior pelvic floor dysfunction (rectocele, intussusception, mucosal prolapse, paradoxical contraction or non-relaxation of the puborectalis muscle, and grade III enterocele/sigmoidocele). Patients were grouped according to the age (Group I = patients up to 50 years of age; Group II = patients over 50 years of age) to evaluate the isolated and associated incidence of dysfunctions. To evaluate the relationship between dysfunction and age-related changes, patients were also stratified into decades.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Group I included 196 patients and Group II included 138. The incidence of significant rectocele, intussusception, rectocele associated with intussusception, rectocele associated with mucosal prolapse and 3 associated disorders was higher in Group II, whereas anismus was more prevalent in Group I. The incidence of significant rectocele, intussusception, mucosal prolapse and grade III enterocele/sigmoidocele was found to increase with age. Conversely, anismus decreased with age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aging was shown to influence the incidence of posterior pelvic floor disorders (rectocele, intussusception, mucosa prolapse and enterocele/sigmoidocele), but not the incidence of anismus, in women with obstructed defecation syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Clinical Hospital, Federal University of Ceará, Av Pontes Vieira, 2551., Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil. smregadas@hospitalsaocarlos.com.br
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Murad-Regadas
authors.forename: L V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Furtado
authors.forename: F S P
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Regadas
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Olivia da S Fernandes
authors.forename: F S P
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Regadas Filho
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Gondim
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Paula Joca da Silva
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003248:Constipation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019841:Defecography; D005260:Female; D006547:Hernia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007443:Intussusception / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D059952:Pelvic Floor Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D056887:Pelvic Organ Prolapse / Q000453:epidemiology; D020047:Rectocele / Q000453:epidemiology; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult