Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Symptoms of urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse and physical performance in 
middle -aged women from Northeast Brazil: a cross -sectional study  
 
Version: 0 Date: 27 Mar 2019  
 
Reviewer: R. Y. K. Cheung  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
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Thank you for preparing this manuscript. This bring up a interesting clinical question.  
The method and result w ere well reported in this paper. Together with some limitations of this 
paper were discussed.  
However, one of the major limitation of this study that we can reach to the conclusion will be the 
pre-morbid status of the subjects. The exclusion criteria only  include neurological problem and 
muscle/ joint pain. However, many other co -morbidity could affect the physical performance that 
were tested here, eg heart failure, respiratory problem, lung function or even having flu etc. I 
wonder if all these factors w ere taken account in the analysis. These are majors factors that affect 
one's physical performance and should not  be missed out.  
Overall, the urinary incontinence and pelvic organ proalpse were only self reported symptoms 
from all subjects. I would not agree on the title that  'Urinary incontinence, symptomatic pelvic 
organ prolapse and physical performance in middle -aged women from Northeast Brazil', instead 
it should only be 'symptoms of  urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse' because they 
were not confirmed by any clinical examination. And the same changes should apply in the 
content of the manuscript.  
Thank you  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
  
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please spec ify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or wo uld you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written Eng lish 
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Needs some language corrections before being published  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
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