Self-reported pelvic organ prolapse surgery, prevalence, and nonobstetric risk factors: findings from the Nord Trøndelag Health Study.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess prevalence and risk factors of self-reported pelvic organ prolapse (POP) surgery in a Nordic county.

Methods: We assessed cross-sectional data collection from participants in the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study in 2006-2008. All women in the county ≥30 years were eligible, of whom 20,285 (50.3 %) responded by completing questionnaires and attending screening stations. Outcome measures were self-reported POP surgery, age at survey, sociodemographic factors, and information on selected risk factors for POP: self-reported smoking, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, constipation a decade prior, and measured body mass index (BMI). Descriptive statistics, Kaplan-Meier estimates, and multivariate logistic regression were used. Statistical significance was defined as p ≤ 0.01.

Results: POP surgery was reported by 1,123 (5.3 %) of all women: 0.7 % < age 40, 3.1 % between age 40 and 59, and 10.8 % age >60. Cumulative incidence by age 85 was 14.6 %; mean age at surgery was 51.6 [standard deviation 14.7]. After adjustment for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, odds ratios (OR) with 99 % confidence intervals (CI) for reporting the need for POP surgery were marked constipation 1.83 (1.30-2.56), BMI categories above normal 1.58-1.64 (1.10-2.25), COPD 1.51 (1.06-2.16), occupation involving lifting compared with sitting 1.40 (0.98-2.01), and asthma 1.25 (0.98-1.59). Cigarette smoking was not significantly associated.

Conclusion: Prevalence of self-reported POP surgery was high and increased with age. Constipation reported a decade prior, above-normal BMI, and COPD were significant nonobstetric risk factors.