A capacidade de contração dos músculos do assoalho pélvico influencia na severidade da incontinência urinária e na qualidade de vida das mulheres

Abstract

Introduction: Urinary incontinence (UI) is an involuntary loss of urine that affects up to 60% of the world's female population. Women with UI may have weakness of the pelvic floor muscles (PFM), however, no studies evaluating the influence of PFM strength on UI severity and quality of life (QOL) on urinary incontinence were found. Objective: To compare severity of UI and QOL among women with normal MAP strength and weakness. Methodology: An observational study was carried out with 37 women, divided into two groups according to the contraction capacity of the PFM evaluated by the Modified Oxford Scale (MOS). Women with PFM contractions between 0 and 2 degrees in the MOS formed the Weak PFM Group (WPFMG, n=20); and between 3 and 5 degrees the Normal PFM Group (NPFMG, n=17). Personal data collection, assessment of UI severity with Incontinence Severity Index Questionnaire (ISI-Q) and QOL with the King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ) were performed. In the physical evaluation, the 1 hour absorbent test, Function Evaluation and Manometry of the PFM were performed. In the statistical analysis, the Mann-Whitney and Chi-square tests were used, considering p≤0.05. Results: The NPFMG had a poor QOL related to the sleep and disposition domain (p=0.048). There was no difference between groups in the other KHQ domains and in the severity of UI (p=0.257). Conclusion: PFM weakness did not present worse severity of UI or QOL, except in the sleep and disposition domain.