Abstract
Purpose. To explore risk factors of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) among women of reproductive age in Xi'an district and then to offer reference for clinical prevention and treatment of VVC. Methods. Patients from the outpatient department of gynecology and obstetrics in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from June 2016 to May 2017 were recruited strictly according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Participants diagnosed as simple VVC were assigned to the case group, while women who underwent routine gynecological examination and had normal vaginal microflora were assigned to the control group. Then we conducted a questionnaire survey of the two groups and used the logistic regression model to explore the related risk factors of VVC. Results. In the present study, ninety-seven cases were sample VVC patients and eighty-seven cases were healthy women. This cross-sectional study showed that occasionally or never drinking sweet drinks (odds ratio [OR] =0.161, 95% confidence interval [CI] =0.056-0.462, P=0.001), occasionally or never eating sweet foods (OR=0.158, 95%CI=0.054-0.460, P=0.001), and the use of condom (OR=0.265, 95%CI=0.243-0.526, P=0.001) were regarded as protective factors for VVC. In addition, sedentary life style (OR=7.876, 95%CI=1.818-34.109, P=0.006), frequently wearing tights (OR=6.613, 95%CI=1.369-27.751, P=0.018), frequent intravaginal douching (OR=3.493, 95%CI=1.379-8.847, P=0.008), having the first sexual encounter when under 20 years old (OR=2.364, 95%CI=1.181-7.758, P=0.006), the number of sexual partners being over two (OR=3.222, 95%CI=1.042-9.960, P=0.042), history of curettage (OR=3.471, 95%CI=1.317-9.148, P=0.012), history of vaginitis (OR=8.999, 95%CI=2.816-28.760, P<0.001), and not cleaning the vulva before or after sexual encounters (OR=13.684, 95%CI=2.843-65.874, P=0.001) were considered to be risk factors of VVC. Conclusion. In conclusion, risk factors of VVC are various, involving ages, hygienic habits, disease history, and other aspects.
Highlights
Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is the second most common vaginal infection affecting women of reproductive age, mainly damaging the vulva and vagina
Univariate analysis showed that age under 40 years old was a risk factor for VVC (OR=2.431, 95%confidence intervals (CI)=1.0615.568, P=0.032)
Frequently drinking sweet drinks (OR=2.960, 95%CI=1.483-5.907, P=0.002) and eating sweet foods (OR=0. 2.685, 95%CI=2.442-9.839, P=0.039), occasionally or never performing physical training (OR=3.418, 95%CI=1.272-9.182, P=0.011), sedentary life style (OR=2.954, 95%CI=1.515-5.759, P=0.001), and a distressed emotional state (OR=3.191, 95%CI=1.729-5.890, P
Summary
Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is the second most common vaginal infection affecting women of reproductive age, mainly damaging the vulva and vagina. It is estimated that approximately 70-75% of women of childbearing age will have at least one episode of VVC during their lifetime and 40-50% will suffer from a recurrence [1]. Candida albicans is part of normal vaginal microflora. It will become a robust opportunistic fungal pathogen and is the leading causative agent of VVC when the body lacks protective immunity and has recalcitrance to clearance [3]. Apart from the above negative impacts, some emerging data have suggested that VVC during pregnancy might be associated with increased risk of pregnancy complications, such as premature rupture of membranes, preterm labor, chorioamnionitis, and congenital cutaneous candidiasis [4, 5].
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