Of the 2001 patients referred to PFU, 1956 attended TTAC appointments with a female predominance (1673, 85.5%) and mean age of 52.9 +/- 15 years.
Prevalence of presenting complaints in patients with defecatory disorders
The main presenting complaints reported by patients were constipation (819, 42.2%), anal incontinence (503, 25.9%), mixed symptoms (411, 21.2%), rectal prolapse (84, 4.3%), other complaints such as anal pain or rectal bleeding (84, 4.3%) and symptoms of vaginal prolapse with difficulty emptying rectum (38,2.1%).
Socio-demographic risk factors for defecatory disorders
Table 1 shows the association between socio-demographic characteristics and presenting complaints in patients with DD.
Age
Age < 50 years was associated with symptoms of constipation, rectal bleeding and anal pain, and symptoms of vaginal prolapse with difficulty emptying the rectum, p-value <0.001. Age age >50 years was associated with symptoms of anal incontinence and mixed symptoms, p-value= <0.001.
Gender
Female gender was associated with symptoms of constipation, rectal prolapse, and vaginal prolapse symptoms with difficulty emptying the rectum, p-value = 0.004. Male gender was associated with anal incontinence, mixed symptoms, and other symptoms of anal pain, or rectal bleeding, with p-value < 0.001.
Socio-economic status and ethnicity
We did not find any variability in socioeconomic status and ethnicity when compared to presenting complaints in patients with DD.
Clinical risk factors for defecatory disorders
Table 2 shows the association of clinical risk factors with presenting complaints in patients with DD.
Parity
Nulliparity was associated with symptoms of constipation and rectal bleeding or anal pain. Parity was associated with anal incontinence, mixed symptoms, and symptoms of vaginal prolapse with difficulty emptying the rectum. An increase in parity was associated with constipation and mixed symptoms, p-value <0.001.
Episiotomy
Episiotomy was associated with constipation, rectal prolapse, rectal bleeding, and anal pain, and symptoms of vaginal prolapse with difficulty emptying the rectum, p-value = <0.001.
Hysterectomy
Hysterectomy was associated with anal incontinence, rectal prolapse, and vaginal prolapse with difficulty emptying the rectum, p-value = <0.001
Previous pelvic floor surgery
Previous pelvic floor surgery was associated with anal incontinence, mixed symptoms, rectal prolapse, rectal bleeding, and anal pain, and symptoms of vaginal prolapse with difficulty emptying the rectum, p-value = <0.001.