Epidemiology Analysis of Pelvic Floor Medicine Center in Southern Israel Using PFDI-20 and PISQ-12 Quality of Life Questionnaires

Abstract

Aim: In the process of opening a new Pelvic Floor Medicine Unit, we aimed to map the pelvic floor dysfunction and sexual issues using validated quality of life (QOL) questionnaires. Material and Methods: All the patients who attended the Pelvic Floor Medicine Unit clinic in Assuta University Medical Center in Ashdod, Israel, were given a validated Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory 20 (PFDI-20) and Prolapse Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire 12 (PISQ-12) questionnaires prior to meeting the physician. The patient’s age, parity, and route of delivery were collected from the medical record. All data has been statistically analyzed using Kruskal Wallis Test and Mann-Whitney U Test. Results: 647 patients were included in the study, of them 462 filled out the PFDI-20 questionnaires and 221 completed the PISQ-12 questionnaire filling. In the PFDI-20 results, POPDI-6 higher scores were found to be associated with higher parity (p=0.043) and with higher age (p=0.03). CARD-8 scores were found to be significantly associated with cesarean delivery only in patients’ history (p=0.023) and with higher age (p=0.05). UDI-6 scores were found significantly associated with older age (p<0.01). PISQ-12 scores were found associated with age (p=0.002), but not with either parity or route of delivery. Conclusions: Using validates questionnaires, we could demonstrate a correlation between parity and age, an association between aging and higher rates of bowel and sexual dysfunction, an association between higher parity and pelvic organ prolapse complaints, and an association between previous cesarean deliveries only and higher rates of bowel disfunction. The use of validated QoL questionnaires for describing the population suffering from PFDs presents an important tool in understanding the epidemiology of PFD in different communities.