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An epidemiologic study of pelvic organ prolapse in rural Chinese women: a population-based sample in China

  • Zhiyi Li
  • Tao Xu
  • Zhaoai Li
  • Jian Gong
  • Qing Liu
  • Lan ZhuEmail author
Original Article
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Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis

We aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse (POP) in rural China.

Methods

A cross-sectional study of POP was conducted in rural China from February 2014 to March 2016. In total, 25,864 rural women were recruited. All were asked to complete a questionnaire that included questions about their age, job, parity, diseases, and so on. Symptomatic POP was assessed using Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) system staging and validation questionnaires. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the factors associated with symptomatic POP.

Results

The prevalence of symptomatic POP was 9.10%. There was a consistent trend toward an increasing prevalence of POP with increasing age, ranging from 2.53 to 13.40% (P < 0.0001). Women aged 50–59 years [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.86, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.46–2.37] were more likely to have POP than women aged 20–29 years. POP was positively associated with giving birth to more than three children (AOR 2.18, 95% CI 1.88–2.43). Cesarean section was a significant protective factor (AOR = 0.34, 95% CI 0.33-0.49) compared with vaginal delivery. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that obesity, constipation, smoking, coughing, gynecological diseases, and other physical diseases were also associated with POP.

Conclusions

Symptomatic POP affects a substantial proportion of women in rural China. Older age, multiparity, vaginal delivery, obesity, and many chronic conditions significantly increased the odds of developing symptomatic POP. Additional healthcare campaigns are needed to educate women in rural areas about POP.

Keywords

Epidemiology Pelvic organ prolapse Prevalence Risk factors Rural 

Abbreviations

POP

Pelvic organ prolapse

POP-Q

Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification

AOR

Adjusted odds ratio

CIs

Confidence intervals

BMI

Body mass index

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Notes

Acknowledgments

This study obtained ethical approval from clinical trials.gov and http://www.chictr.org.cn (number: ChiCTR-OCH-14004675). Written consent was obtained from all eligible participants. All eligible patients were invited to participate in the study, and those who agreed were provided with a written informed consent form to sign. Ethical approval for the research was sought and obtained from the Research Ethical Committee at the Peking Union Medical College Hospital in 2014.

Funding

This study was funded by the CAMS Initiative for Innovative Medicine (CAMS-I2 M; 2017-I2 M-1-002).

Compliance with ethical standards

Conflicts of interest

None.

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Copyright information

© The International Urogynecological Association 2019

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical CollegeChinese Academy of Medical SciencesBeijingPeople’s Republic of China
  2. 2.Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and School of Basic MedicinePeking Union Medical CollegeBeijingPeople’s Republic of China
  3. 3.Department of Gynecology and ObstetricsChildren’s Hospital of Shanxi ProvinceShanxiPeople’s Republic of China
  4. 4.Department of Gynecology and ObstetricsMaternal and Child Health Hospital of WuxiJiangsuPeople’s Republic of China
  5. 5.Department of Gynecology and ObstetricsMaternal and Child Health Hospital of Gansu ProvinceLanzhouPeople’s Republic of China

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