Study Of The Relationship Of Chronic Constipation And Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of chronicconstipation as defined by the RomeⅡcriteria in patients with pelvic organ prolapse(POP)or stress urinary incontinence(SUI), and try to analyze the correlation between chronicconstipation and pelvic floor dysfunction.Method: 209 consecutive female subjects who underwent surgery for POP or SUI inthe department of obstetrics and gynecology of Peking Union Medical College Hospitalfrom January 2005 to December 2005 were enrolled. Demographic, general medical, andphysical examination information were collected from the medical record and a telephonesurvey. The prevalence of chronic constipation defined by the RomeⅡcriteria wascollected using the questionnaire modified from the RomeⅡModular questionnaire byourselves. Relationship between chronic constipation and various components of thevaginal examination was investigated. The patients were divided into two groups:constipation group and non-constipation group. The demographic data and clinicalcharacteristics of the two groups were compared respectively.Results: 128 cases were respondents to the telephone survey (response rate 61.2%).Mean age was 56±12 years. 72% (92/128) of cases lived in Beijing. Overall, 57.8%(74/128) of subjects had SUI, 95.3% (122/128) had POP, 80.5% (103/128) had posteriorvaginal prolase. 37 cases met the criteria for chronic constipation (28.9%). In multiplelogistic models, Neither overall stage of POP nor stage of posterior vaginal prolapse wassignificantly associated with chronic constipation. Age was independently associated withadvanced POP (OR=1.084; 95% CI 1.014-1.159; P=0.017). There was no significantdifference of overall stage of POP or stage of posterior vaginal prolapse betweenconstipation and non-constipation groups.Conclusion: The investigation demonstrated that there was a high prevalence ofchronic constipation in the women with pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinaryincontinence. It appears that constipation contributes equally to the development of bothpelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence. Chronic constipation might not relate to overall stage of pelvic organ prolapse or stage of posterior vaginal prolapse.