Prevalence and Trends of Symptomatic Pelvic Floor Disorders in US Women

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence and trends of these pelvic floor disorders in U.S. women from 2005 to 2010. METHODS: We used the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey from 2005-2006, 2007-2008, and 2009-2010. A total of 7,924 nonpregnant women (aged 20 years or older) were categorized as having: urinary incontinence (UI)-moderate to severe (3 or higher on a validated UI severity index, range 0-12); fecal incontinence-at least monthly (solid, liquid, or mucus stool); and pelvic organ prolapse-seeing or feeling a bulge. Potential risk factors included age, race and ethnicity, parity, education, poverty income ratio, body mass index ([BMI] less than 25, 25-29, 30 or greater), comorbidity count, and reproductive factors. Using appropriate sampling weights, weighted x analysis and multivariable logistic regression models with odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were reported. RESULTS: The weighted prevalence rate of one or more pelvic floor disorders was 25.0% (95% CI 23.6-26.3), including 17.1% (95% CI 15.8-18.4) of women with moderate-to-severe UI, 9.4% (95% CI 8.6-10.2) with fecal incontinence, and 2.9% (95% CI 2.5-3.4) with prolapse. From 2005 to 2010, no significant differences were found in the prevalence rates of any individual disorder or for all disorders combined (P >.05). After adjusting for potential confounders, higher BMI, greater parity, and hysterectomy were associated with higher odds of one or more pelvic floor disorders. CONCLUSION: Although rates of pelvic floor disorders did not change from 2005 to 2010, these conditions remain common, with one fourth of adult U.S. women reporting at least one disorder.