• Marta Quézia Silva Fontenele, Mayle Andrade Moreira, Anna Caroline Ribeiro de Moura, Vilena Barros de Figueiredo, Patricia Driusso, and Simony Lira Nascimento.
• Physical Therapy Department, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará (UFC), Major Weyne Street, 1440 - Rodolfo Teófilo, Fortaleza, Ceará, 60430-450, Brazil.
• Arch. Gynecol. Obstet. 2021 Jan 1; 303 (1): 143-149.

ObjectiveTo analyze the relationship between the symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) and quality of life (QoL), as well as the function of the pelvic floor muscle (PFM) in women with urinary incontinence (UI).MethodsA cross-sectional study conducted in two centers in Brazil (Northeast and Southeast regions) with women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and mixed urinary incontinence (MUI). Data on pelvic floor symptoms, discomfort and impact on QoL were collected using the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-short form (PFDI-SF-20) and the Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire (PFIQ-7) instruments. PFM function was assessed by palpation (PERFECT scale) and manometry. Pearson's correlation test, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the Student's t test were used to discriminate the differences, adopting a significance level of 5%.ResultsA total of 72 women participated in the study (mean age 51.7 ± 11.9 years). The presence and discomfort of pelvic floor symptoms (PFDI-SF-20) were correlated with QoL (PFIQ-7) (r = 0.52, p < 0.001). Deficits in PFM function (power and pressure) were observed, however, there was no correlation between these with the presence and discomfort of the pelvic floor symptoms (PFDI-SF-20).ConclusionGreater discomfort due to PFD symptoms were correlated with a worse QoL. However, the relationship between symptoms and PFM function was not significant. These results reinforce the need to assess the aspects of activity and participation which compose functionality and QoL, and not only the PFM functions in women with UI.

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