Association of dietary fiber, liquid intake and lifestyle characteristics with gastrointestinal symptoms and pregnancy outcome.

Objectives: Heartburn and constipation are common gastrointestinal symptoms during pregnancy. High fiber and liquid intake have beneficial effects on these symptoms in non- pregnant population. Our aim was to evaluate the association of dietary fiber, fluid intake and lifestyle characteristics with constipation, heartburn, and pregnancy outcome. Study design: Two hundred pregnant women were enrolled in this prospective cohort study during the 1st trimester of pregnancy. Participants completed a self- administered questionnaire concerning bowel symptoms, dietary fiber, liquid intake, and lifestyle characteristics before pregnancy, during pregnancy and post-partum. After exclusions 173 pregnant women participated the study and 173, 173, 136, 109 and 91 completed pre-pregnancy, and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd trimester, and post-partum questionnaires, respectively. Data on deliveries and perinatal outcome (n = 173) were collected from hospital records. In trajectory analysis, the women were clustered in groups based on the intake of fiber and liquids. Generalized linear mixed models and logistic regression analyses were used to find associations of fiber and fluid intake with constipation, heartburn and pregnancy outcome. Results and conclusions: Heartburn increased significantly during pregnancy and the highest prevalence (33%) was during the third trimester. A combination of low fiber and low fluid intake increased the risk of constipation during pregnancy (OR 5.9, 95% CI 2.00-17.4). Low fiber intake increased the risk of combined adverse outcome (cesarean section, premature delivery and/or small for gestational age; OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.2-9.6). Sufficient fiber and liquid intake may be protective against pregnancy-associated constipation and may be associated with improved pregnancy outcome.

Factors associated with urinary and double incontinence in a geriatric post-hip fracture assessment in older women.

BACKGROUND: Incontinence and hip fractures are common in older people, especially women, and associated with multiple adverse effects. Incontinence is a risk factor for falls. AIMS: We aimed to investigate the prevalence of urinary (UI) and double incontinence (DI, concurrent UI and faecal incontinence), and to identify factors associated with UI and DI 6 months post-fracture. METHODS: A prospective real-life cohort study was conducted consisting of 910 women aged ≥ 65 who were treated for their first hip fracture in Seinäjoki Central Hospital, Finland, between May 2008 and April 2018. Continence status was elicited at baseline and 6 months postoperatively at our geriatric outpatient clinic where all participants underwent a multidisciplinary comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) consisting of an evaluation of cognition, nutrition, mood, mobility, and functional ability. RESULTS: At baseline, 47% of the patients were continent, 45% had UI and 8% had DI, and at follow up, 38%, 52%, and 11%, respectively. The mean age of the patients was 82.7 ± 6.8. Both UI and DI were associated with functional disability and other factors related to frailty. The associations were particularly prominent for patients with DI who also had the worst performance in the domains of CGA. We identified several modifiable risk factors: depressive mood (odds ratio [OR] 1.81; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.16-2.84) and constipation (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.02-2.13) associated with UI and, late removal of urinary catheter (OR 2.33, 95% CI 1.31-4.14), impaired mobility (OR 2.08, 95% CI 1.05-4.15), and poor nutrition (OR 2.31, 95% CI 1.11-4.79) associated with DI. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates a high prevalence of UI and DI in older women with hip fracture and modifiable risk factors, which should be targeted in orthogeriatric management and secondary falls prevention. Patients with DI were found to be an especially vulnerable group.

Dietary fibre intake and lifestyle characteristics in relation to nausea or vomiting during pregnancy-a questionnaire-based cohort study.

Nausea or vomiting in pregnancy (NVP) are among the commonest symptoms experienced in early pregnancy. We wanted to evaluate the association of dietary fibre intake, lifestyle characteristics and bowel function with NVP. One hundred and eighty-eight participants completed a self-administered questionnaire concerning bowel function, dietary fibre intake and lifestyle characteristics. Women suffering from NVP (n = 91) consumed significantly more fibre derived from cereal products (p=.026) and total fibre (p=.043) during pre-pregnancy period was compared to women without NVP (n = 97). In both groups, intake of total fibre and fibre derived from fruit and vegetables increased significantly during the first trimester. Dietary fibre intake did not protect from NVP. However, women suffering from NVP were able to maintain their fibre intake. Dietary fibre is tolerated well during NVP, and this finding can be used when giving diet counselling to women suffering from NVP.Impact statementWhat is already known on this subject? Nausea or vomiting in pregnancy (NVP) are among the commonest symptoms experienced in early pregnancy. The pathophysiology of NVP remains unknown, but it has been suggested to be multifactorial. Diet during pregnancy may have an impact on NVP. It is generally advised to avoid meat, poultry, fish, eggs and spicy and fatty foods during periods of NVP, but there is limited data on the effects of diet of NVP.What do the results of this study add? Women suffering from NVP have been shown to eat less meat (and thus protein) compared to women without NVP. Dietary fibre reduces constipation and heartburn and it also keeps blood glucose levels stable. Because of various beneficial effects of fibre on the digestive system, we hypothesised that a high fibre intake may alleviate the symptoms of NVP.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the amount or source of dietary fibre are associated with NVP. We wanted to investigate intake of fibre derived from cereal products (mostly representing insoluble fibre) and fibre derived from fruit and vegetables (containing mostly soluble fibre) separately in relationship to NVP, as the mechanisms of action of these fibre groups are different. There are no observational studies including also pre-pregnancy consumption of fibre when focussing on the association between fibre and NVP. The results of this study can be used when giving diet counselling to women suffering from NVP.

Reliability of preoperative evaluation of postmenopausal ovarian tumors.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative evaluation of ovarian tumors is challenging. This study was undertaken to evaluate the performance of conventional two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound and CA125 in predicting malignant or benign nature of pelvic masses, and to investigate if three-dimensional power Doppler (3DPD) ultrasound provides any added value. Ninety-six postmenopausal and four perimenopausal women with supposed ovarian tumors were examined by standardized 2D and 3DPD ultrasounds preoperatively. The tumors were evaluated using the risk of malignancy index (RMI), International Ovarian Tumors Analysis (IOTA) group simple rules, expert opinion, IOTA logistic regression model 2 (LR2) and 3D vascular indices, and were postoperatively compared to histopathological results. RESULTS: Ninety-eight tumors turned out to be ovarian in origin. Of these, 66 were benign and 32 malignant. RMI (cut-off value 200), simple rules, expert opinion and LR2 (cut-off value 25) were used to predict malignant nature of the tumors and had sensitivities of 71.9, 90.6, 87.5 and 90.6%, and specificities of 80.3, 84.6, 92.4 and 77.3%, respectively. When the 3D vascularization flow index (VFI) was added to RMI and LR2, the accuracy of the test improved from 77.6 to 81.4% and from 81.6 to 86.5%, respectively, at the expense of sensitivity, while VFI gave no added benefit for simple rules and expert opinion. Agreement between two examiners using expert opinion was good (Cohen's kappa = 0.89). CONCLUSIONS: The subjective opinion of an expert seems to be the most reliable method in assessing ovarian tumors, and the 3DPD indices seem to provide no significant added value.