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Prevalence of severe pelvic organ prolapse in relation to job description and socioeconomic status: a multicenter cross-sectional study

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine if certain occupations or socioeconomic levels are associated with pelvic organ prolapse. Investigators at six American sites performed pelvic organ prolapse quantification examinations on women presenting for routine gynecologic care. Between September 1999 and March 2002, 1,004 patients were examined. Severe pelvic organ prolapse was defined as the leading edge being 1 cm or more beyond the hymeneal ring. The data was analyzed with the Kruskal–Wallis analysis of variance, Bonferroni test, multiple logistic regression, and descriptive statistics. The prevalence of severe pelvic organ prolapse in our group was 4.3%. Women who were laborers/factory workers had significantly more severe prolapse than the other job categories (p<0.001). Women with annual income of $10,000 or less had significantly more severe pelvic organ prolapse than other income groups (p<0.001). These differences persisted even when controlling for age, race, number of deliveries, body mass index >30, and smoking status (all p<0.001). Laborers/factory worker jobs and an annual household income of $10,000 or less are associated with severe pelvic organ prolapse.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Dierdre McCullough, MD, at the San Antonio University of Health Sciences Educational Center, San Antonio, TX, and John A. Ward, PhD, at Brooke Army Medical Center, Department of Clinical Investigation for their assistance in the statistical analysis of this manuscript.

An unrestricted grant for statistical support was received from the General Clinical Research Center (GCRC) at the Medical University of South Carolina.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Urogynecology and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, WA, USA

    Patrick J. Woodman

  2. Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Benign Gynecology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA

    Steven E. Swift

  3. Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Portsmouth, VA, USA

    Amy L. O’Boyle

  4. Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Health System Minnesota, Shakopee, MN, USA

    Michael T. Valley

  5. Blue Ridge Medical Associates, Winston-Salem, NC, USA

    Deirdre R. Bland

  6. Departments of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Urology, Division of Urology, University of Texas Medical Branch–Galveston, Galveston, TX, USA

    Margie A. Kahn

  7. Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA

    Joseph I. Schaffer

  8. Urogynecology Associates Methodist Hospital, Indiana University/Clarian Health, 1633 N. Capitol Ave. #436, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA

    Patrick J. Woodman

Authors
  1. Patrick J. Woodman
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  2. Steven E. Swift
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  3. Amy L. O’Boyle
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  4. Michael T. Valley
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  5. Deirdre R. Bland
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  6. Margie A. Kahn
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  7. Joseph I. Schaffer
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Patrick J. Woodman.

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“The opinions and assertions contained herein are those of the authors and not to be construed as official or reflecting the views of the Department of the Army, Department of the Navy, or the Department of the Defense.”

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Woodman, P.J., Swift, S.E., O’Boyle, A.L. et al. Prevalence of severe pelvic organ prolapse in relation to job description and socioeconomic status: a multicenter cross-sectional study. Int Urogynecol J 17, 340–345 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-005-0009-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-005-0009-2

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