PHYSIOTHERAPY THEORY AND PRACTICE, cilt.40, sa.3, ss.625-636, 2024 (SCI-Expanded)
Objective To determine individual characteristics (i.e. sociodemographic and medical, obstetric and gynecological, and musculoskeletal and anthropometric parameters) for greater pelvic floor distress (PFD). Methods A cross-sectional study was performed in 253 women with pelvic floor dysfunction. PFD was assessed using the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20 (PFDI-20). The score of Urogenital Distress Inventory-6 (UDI-6) was used to perform secondary analyses. Sociodemographic, medical, and obstetric & gynecological parameters were recorded. Waist and hip circumferences and pelvic diameters were measured as anthropometric parameters. Pearson test, t-test, and linear regression analyses were conducted with a significance level of 0.05. Results Education level (r = -0.23, p < .001; r = -0.24, p < .001), number of vaginal births (r = 0.15, p = .012; r = 0.12, p = .048), total vaginal birth weight (r = 0.15, p = .021; r = 0.16, p = .019), and Body Mass Index (r = 0.12, p = .043; r = 0.16, p = .007) were significantly correlated with the higher PFDI-20 and UDI-6 scores. The maternal age at the first vaginal birth (r = -0.13, p = .049) and pelvic antero-posterior diameter (r = 0.17, p = .013) were also significantly correlated with higher UDI-6 score. Linear regression analyses revealed that younger age (Beta coefficient (beta) = -1.10, p = .005), greater symptom duration (beta = 2.28, p = .001), the presence of chronic cough/constipation (beta = 25.72, p = .001), and increased total vaginal birth weight (beta = 2.38, p = .030) were associated with the greater PFDI-20 score. Increased pelvic antero-posterior diameter (beta = 0.88, p = .049) was a contributory factor for the greater UDI-6 score. Conclusion This study showed that younger age, chronic cough/constipation, higher total vaginal birth weight, greater symptom duration, and pelvic antero-posterior diameter can be contributors of greater PFD. We suggest further longitudinal studies that better reveal the causal relationship between individual characteristics and PFD.