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Clinical characteristics of women with familial pelvic floor disorders

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Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis

Understanding the clustering of pelvic floor disorders (PFDs) within families is important because it may suggest underlying risk factors that may be environmental, genetic or both. The objective of this study was to describe clinical characteristics observed in familial cases with PFDs and compare them with strictly defined controls.

Methods

Women evaluated and treated for PFDs were recruited as part of a larger genetic study. Here, we define familial cases as those with bothersome symptoms or treatment for a PFD (pelvic organ prolapse [POP], stress urinary incontinence [SUI], and overactive bladder [OAB]) and who had a first-degree relative with bothersome symptoms or treatment for the same pelvic floor defect. We assigned clinical characteristics to probands and their relatives using standardized symptom questions (PFDI), examination, and review of treatment records, if any.

Results

We identified 126 familial POP cases, 183 familial SUI cases, and 101 familial OAB cases. Familial cases were more likely to have bothersome symptoms for more than one PFD. Among familial POP cases, bothersome SUI (71 %), OAB (54 %), and a combination of all three disorders (48 %) were common. Among familial SUI cases, bothersome OAB (60 %), POP (59 %), and combinations of all disorders (40 %) were common. Among familial OAB cases, bothersome SUI (88 %), POP (66 %), and combinations of all three disorders (59 %) were common.

Conclusions

Familial cases of POP, SUI, and OAB are more likely to have more than one pelvic floor defect. It is likely that underlying genetic factors contribute to more than one pelvic floor defect.

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Acknowledgements

Partial support for all data sets within the Utah Population Database (UPDB) was provided by Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah and the Huntsman Cancer Institute's Cancer Center Support grant, P30 CA42014 from National Cancer Institute. Data collection for this publication was supported by NIH grant Number R01 HD061821 from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (Lisa Cannon Albright and Peggy Norton).

Conflicts of interest

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Room 2B200, UUMC, 50 N Medical Drive, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA

    Peggy A. Norton

  2. Division of Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    K. Allen-Brady & L. Cannon-Albright

  3. George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    L. Cannon-Albright

  4. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA

    J. Wu

  5. Department of Family and Preventative Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    M. Egger

Authors
  1. Peggy A. Norton
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  2. K. Allen-Brady
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  3. J. Wu
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  4. M. Egger
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  5. L. Cannon-Albright
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peggy A. Norton.

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Norton, P.A., Allen-Brady, K., Wu, J. et al. Clinical characteristics of women with familial pelvic floor disorders. Int Urogynecol J 26, 401–406 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-014-2513-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-014-2513-8

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