The prevalence of fecal incontinence and associated risk factors in older adults participating in the SABE study.

AIMS: To assess the prevalence of fecal incontinence (FI) and associated factors in older adults. METHODS: The prevalence and factors associated with FI in older adults were studied by means the SABE study (Health, Well-being, and Aging). A group of 1,345 subjects were interviewed during the third wave of the SABE study performed in Sao Paulo, in 2010. The study included 64.3% females; the mean age of the participants was 70.4 years. The dependent variable was the positive answer for the question "In the last 12 months, have you ever lost control of bowel movements or stools?". Descriptive analysis and hierarchical logistic regression were performed. The independent variables were as follows: (a) demographics: gender, age and (b) clinical characteristics: self-reported chronic diseases, presence of cognitive and/or functional decline, depression and urinary incontinence symptoms, and nutritional status. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of FI was 11,7%, being 8.3% and 13.2% for males and females respectively. Among male subjects, the presence of malnutrition was associated with FI and thus presented a high relative risk index for its occurrence. Among female subjects, age group 70-74 years and some self-reported diseases or conditions such as mild depression, heart disease, urinary incontinence, and polypharmacy were associated with FI. For the first time in literature, polypharmacy appeared as an associated factor for FI for female older adults. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of FI in older adults was 11.7% and was mainly associated with advanced age and presence of heart disease, symptoms of depression, polypharmacy and urinary incontinence and malnutrition. Neurourol. Urodynam. 35:959-964, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Pelvic floor muscle training in female stress urinary incontinence: comparison between group training and individual treatment using PERFECT assessment scheme.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) is a treatment for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) that can be done individually or in a group. The aim of this study was to compare these two types of treatment. METHODS: Sixty women 30 to 75 years old with SUI were randomly assigned to participate in the two groups. They were evaluated before and after the treatment with the Oxford grading system, pad test, voiding diary, and the King's Health Questionnaire. RESULTS: Both groups experienced significant reductions in urinary leakage as measured by the pad test and bladder diary. A negative pad test was observed in about 50% of patients in both groups. There were statistically significant improvements in both muscle strength and quality of life. When the groups were compared, there were no differences in the results between them. CONCLUSIONS: Individual treatment and group PFMT appear to be equally effective for improving SUI.

Role of glutathione S-transferase (GSTM1) gene polymorphism in development of uterine fibroids.

Glutathione S-transferase (GSTM1) plays an important role in the excretion of catechol estrogens and is therefore a candidate marker for fibroids. However, this case-control study demonstrated no association between GSTM1 polymorphism and the risk of leiomyoma in Brazilian women.