OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that joint hypermobility (JHM) is associated with specific urinary incontinence subtypes and uterovaginal prolapse.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Two hundred and seventy women scheduled to undergo urodynamic investigations were invited to self-complete a validated 5-item JHM questionnaire. Women underwent history taking, symptoms assessing via the King's Health Questionnaire and clinical examination using the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) system. Associations between JHM and pelvic floor disorders in univariate and multivariate ordinal regression were reported using odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
RESULTS: The prevalence of JHM was 31.1%. Joint hypermobility had a negative association with age (OR = 0.98/year, p=0.04). There was no association between JHM and either urodynamic (χ2 = 0.69, p = 0.41), or symptomatic stress incontinence (χ2 = 0.49, p = 0.48). Nor was there association with detrusor overactivity or symptomatic urgency incontinence. Multivariate ordinal regression of JHM with maximum prolapse stage, adjusting for age, demonstrated a significant relationship (OR = 1.26/stage, 95% CI of 1.06-1.46, p< 0.05).
CONCLUSION: Although joint hypermobility is highly prevalent amongst women with LUTS, there is no strong association of JHM with any urinary incontinence subtype. There is a trend towards higher prolapse staging in women with JHM, which becomes significant only after adjustment for the confounding negative association between age and JHM.
Written by:
Derpapas A, Cartwright R, Upadhyaya P, Bhide AA, Digesu AG, Khullar V. Are you the author?
Department of Urogynaecology, St Mary's Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, Praed St, W2 1NY.
Reference: BJU Int. 2014 Jun 6. Epub ahead of print.
doi: 10.1111/bju.12823
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 24905778
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