Functional Status in Older Women Diagnosed with Pelvic Organ Prolapse

Authors

Tatiana V.D. Sanses, University of Maryland School of Medicine
Nicholas K. Schiltz, USA2Case Western Reserve UniversityFollow
Bruna M. Couri, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland
Sangeeta T. Mahajan, Case Western Reserve University
Holly E. Richter, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine
David F. Warner, University of Nebraska–LincolnFollow
Jack Guralnik, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore
Siran M. Koroukian, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland

Date of this Version

2016

Citation

Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2016 May ; 214(5): 613.e1–613.e7. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2015.11.038.

Comments

US government work

Abstract

Background—Functional status plays an important role in the comprehensive characterization of older adults. Functional limitations are associated with an increased risk of adverse treatment outcomes, but there is limited data on the prevalence of functional limitations in older women with pelvic floor disorders.

Objective—The aim of the study was to describe the prevalence of functional limitations based on health status in older women with pelvic organ prolapse.

Study Design—This pooled, cross-sectional study utilized data from the linked Health and Retirement Study and Medicare files between 1992 and 2008. The analysis included 890 women ≥65 years with pelvic organ prolapse. We assessed self-reported functional status, categorized in strength, upper and lower body mobility, activities of daily living, and instrumental activities of daily living domains. Functional limitations were evaluated and stratified by respondents self-reported general health status. Descriptive statistics were used to compare categorical and continuous variables, and logistic regression was used to measure differences in the odds of functional limitation by increasing age.

Results—The prevalence of functional limitations was 76.2% in strength, 44.9% in upper and 65.8% in lower body mobility, 4.5% in activities of daily living and 13.6% in instrumental activities of daily living. Limitations were more prevalent in women with poor or fair health status than in women with good health status, including 91.5% vs 69.9% in strength, 72.9% vs 33.5% in upper and 88.0% vs 56.8% in lower body mobility, 11.6% vs 0.9% in activities of daily living, and 30.6% vs 6.7% in instrumental activities of daily living, all p

Conclusion—Functional limitations, especially in strength and body mobility domains, are highly prevalent in older women with pelvic organ prolapse, particularly in those with poor or fair self-reported health status. Future research is necessary to evaluate if functional status affects clinical outcomes in pelvic reconstructive and gynecologic surgery and whether it should be routinely assessed in clinical decision-making when treating older women with pelvic organ prolapse.