Effect of age, body mass index, and parity on Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification system measurements in women with symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse

J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2012 Feb;38(2):415-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1447-0756.2011.01718.x. Epub 2012 Jan 10.

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the effect of age, body mass index (BMI), and parity on Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) system measurements in women with symptomatic prolapse.

Material and methods: The charts of 603 women with symptomatic prolapse were reviewed. Patients with prior prolapse surgery or hysterectomy were excluded. POP-Q measurements were recorded by a single examiner. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Pearson's product-moment correlation, and Wilcoxon signed rank test.

Results: Three hundred and eleven patients met inclusion criteria. Mean age was 63.4 years, mean parity was 2.6, and mean body mass index (BMI) was 26.6 kg/m(2) . Increasing age was correlated with worsening scores on Ba (r = 0.33, P < 0.0001), C (r = 0.14, P < 0.02), D (r = 0.14, P = 0.02) and Bp (r = 0.13, P = 0.02), while parity was only correlated with worsening scores on Aa (r = 0.12, P = 0.04). There was no correlation between BMI and any POP-Q data point.

Conclusion: The effect of increasing parity was seen solely on point Aa in women with symptomatic prolapse. Age affected all vaginal compartments, while BMI had no impact on POP-Q data points.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Body Mass Index*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Parity*
  • Pelvic Organ Prolapse / diagnosis
  • Pelvic Organ Prolapse / etiology*
  • Pregnancy