O IMPACTO DA DOR PÉLVICA CRÔNICA NA QUALIDADE DE VIDA DAS MULHERES?

Abstract

Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) has been acknowledged as a frequent chronic condition affecting the lives of women. This study evaluates the impact of CPP in the Quality of Life (QofL) of women cared for in the gynecological outpatient service of Hospital das Clinicas at the Federal University of Goiás. This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with 50 women with CPP and 50 women without CPP. Data were collected through structured interviews addressing socio-demographic and economic information in addition to clinical and surgical aspects. QofL was evaluated through the generic questionnaire Medical Outcomes Study 36®-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), and depression through the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Intensity of pain was inferred by a visual analogue scale. Descriptive statistical analyzes, mean comparison test, correlation and multiple linear regression analyzes were carried out. The level of significance was set at 0.05. The average age of women with CPP was 41.65 years old (±9.42) and those without CPP were 28.97 years old (±6.68). Both groups, with and without CPP, included women with secondary school of mixed race, with stable partners, who performed domestic chores, were economically active and the primary income earners, with two children in average. Significant differences were found between the groups concerning: age, income, housing, and dysuria; 52% of the women with CPP reported intense pain. The left iliac fossa was the most frequent site of pain. Physical effort and sexual intercourse prevailed as factors that worsen pain. Analgesic and rest were among factors improving pain. From the women s perspective, emotional state, trauma due to physical and/or sexual abuse as well as childbirth were factors that contributed to the development of CPP. A total of 57% women reported that surgical treatment did not change pain intensity. When QofL of the two groups were compared, women with CPP presented worse scores in all the dimensions evaluated through the SF-36 with exception of mental health. A significant negative correlation between pain intensity and pain dimension from the SF-36 was observed, as well as among depression and the dimensions emotional aspects and mental health . A high prevalence of depression was identified in both groups: 72% in those with CPP and 58% without CPP. The group with CPP presented the worse score in depression. The Cronbach s alpha varied between 0.76 and 0.79 for the BDI, indicating good reliability of the instruments. The conclusion is that CPP has a significant negative impact on these women s QofL and depression was important in the QofL.