Age effects on anorectal pressure in anal continent women with lower urinary tract dysfunction

The objective of this paper is to evaluate age and associated factors affecting anorectal pressure profilometry in anal-continent women with lower urinary tract symptoms. One hundred and ten anal-continent women (mean age, 47.7+/-12.8 years; range, 23-87 years) with lower urinary tract symptoms voluntarily participated in this study after undergoing a complete urogynecological evaluation including a multichannel urodynamic study. Anorectal pressure was evaluated by using a radial four-channel manometry with a water-filled catheter, which was placed 10 cm into the anorectum above the anal verge. We divided the anorectal pressure profile into five segments and four axes to clarify the axis-specific defect or site-specific damage in the sphincter profile. The aging process had a negative effect on the peak resting pressure from the 41 to 100th percentile of the anorectal pressure profile at 12 o'clock, 3 o'clock, and 6 o'clock (P<0.05). With voluntary squeezing, aging had negative effects on the peak squeeze pressure from the 41 to 100th percentile of the anorectal pressure profile at 3 o'clock, and 61 to 80 percentile at 12 o'clock (P<0.05). There is a trend where anorectal pressure reduces as a woman ages, especially at the anal sphincter area in women with lower urinary tract symptoms. The anterior and left sides of the anorectal sphincter seem to be the most vulnerable in the aging process.