Do patients undergoing physical therapy in a rehabilitation center have a high prevalence of pelvic floor dysfunction and psychological disorders? A cross-sectional study

Background: Prevalence of pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) and its relationship with anxiety in a population undergoing physical therapy treatment in Rehabilitation Centers seems to have been little investigated in the literature.

Objective: 1) to investigate the prevalence of PFD, anxiety, depression; 2) to assess quality of life (QoL) in patients undergoing physical therapy in a Rehabilitation Center, 3) to compare the results by sex; and 4) to assess the relationship between PFD and anxiety, depression, and QoL.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included participants receiving physical therapy care in a Rehabilitation Center. Validated questionnaires were used to assess PFD, QoL, depression, and anxiety. The Chi-square test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and a binary logistic regression model were used for data analysis.

Results: 253 participants (56.9% female) were included, 45% of them reported at least one PFD symptom. Females had higher prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) (28% vs 14%); constipation (25% vs 10%); sexual dysfunction (75% vs 9%); anxiety (47% vs 35%); and depression (34% vs 17%) than males. A weak correlation was found between anxiety and depression with UI and sexual dysfunction for females. For all participants, poor QoL was found in physical functioning, physical role, bodily pain and emotional role. Being elderly (OR: 2.58 [1.24, 5.37]), partnered (OR: 1.82 [1.04, 3.17]), female (OR: 3.38 [1.91, 5.99]), and anxious (OR: 2.03 [1.14, 3.62]) were risk factors for reporting PFD.

Conclusion: This study found a high prevalence of PFD symptoms in patients attending a Rehabilitation Center. All symptoms except fecal incontinence were more prevalent in females than in males. There was a weak correlation between UI with QoL and psychological disorders among females.