Open Access
Assessment of Pelvic Floor Function and Quality of Life in Patients Treated for Cervical Cancer: A Multicenter Retrospective Study
Author(s) -
Sha Wang,
Hao Wen,
Yug Gao,
Qing Lv,
Tingting Cao,
Shiyan Wang,
Jing Wang,
Yang Li,
Haibo Wang,
Zhiqi Wang,
Xiuli Sun,
Jianliu Wang
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
gynecologic and obstetric investigation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1423-002X
pISSN - 0378-7346
DOI - 10.1159/000517995
Subject(s) - medicine , overactive bladder , pelvic floor dysfunction , quality of life (healthcare) , gynecology , pelvic floor , constipation , urology , cervical cancer , lower urinary tract symptoms , sexual function , urinary incontinence , gastroenterology , cancer , prostate , alternative medicine , nursing , pathology
Objectives: Our study aimed to evaluate the quality of life (QoL) and pelvic floor function of cervical cancer (CC) patients after treatment. Design: This was a cross-sectional observational cohort study. Participants: The participants included in this study were CC patients who underwent radical hysterectomy (RH) from 2012 to 2018 at 18 medical centers across China. Methods: The validated versions of the Pelvic floor Distress Inventory-Short Form 20, Overactive Bladder Symptom Score, and Euro Qol Five-Dimension questionnaires were used to evaluate postoperative pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) and QoL. Results: A total of 689 CC patients were enrolled. The incidence of stress urinary incontinence (SUI), incomplete urinary emptying, and constipation were 32.7, 27.7, and 28.6%, respectively. Multivariate analysis confirmed that laparoscopic RH (LRH) and vaginal wall resection greater than 3 cm were risk factors for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). LRH and chemotherapy were risk factors for SUI. Chemoradiotherapy and LRH were risk factors for overactive bladder (OAB). A high body mass index and LRH were risk factors for more severe defecation symptoms. ARH and large amount of operative blood loss were risk factors for poor QoL. Conclusion: PFD is common in CC patients after treatment. LRH seems to increase the postoperative distress, including LUTS and defecation symptoms. Postoperative urinary incontinence and OAB are more bothersome for patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy. We recommend evaluating pelvic floor function as a standard assessment during follow-up.