TABLE 1. Quality of life by fecal and flatal incontinence status.

Quality of life measure	No fecal or flatal incontinence (n = 507)	Flatal incontinence (n = 161)	Fecal incontinence (n = 91)	P value, adjusted
SF-12 physical component summary score (range 0-100)	55.4 ± 5.4	55.3 ± 5.9	54.4 ± 7.5	.05
SF-12 mental component summary score (range 0-100)	51.1 ± 8.7	49.4 ± 7.9*	46.8 ± 9.2†	<.0001
Health utility index (range 0-100)	88.0 ± 11.6	85.5 ± 8.8*	85.1 ± 9.8*	.02
Manchester impact item‡	10 (2.0%)	12 (7.5%)	17 (18.7%)*	<.0001
Manchester severity score (range 0-100)	1.0 ± 5.2	2.2 ± 6.1*	11.3 ± 17.0†	<.0001
Sexually active§	305 (83.1%)	100 (87.0%)	54 (80.6%)	.19
PISQ-12 score (range 0-48)§	39.1 ± 4.3	38.1 ± 4.2	37.5 ± 5.2	.09

Groups are presented regardless of urinary incontinence status. Data presented as mean ± SD or n (%). P values based on analysis of variance or Mantel-Haenszel statistic (adjusted for site, race, and marital status).

^*Significantly different from “no FI,” adjusted P < .05.

^†Significantly different from both of the other groups, adjusted P < .05.

^‡“How much do you think your bowel problem affects your life?” Positive response = “moderately,” “quite a bit,” or “extremely.”

^§Sexual function and PISQ-12 scores are presented for women enrolled after the PISQ-12 questionnaire was added to this protocol.

Handa. The impact of fecal and urinary incontinence on quality of life. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2007.