Patient-Reported Outcomes in Women With Postpartum Abdominal Wall Insufficiency (PPAWIS)

his is a prospective observational cohort study conducted in the setting of routine clinical care at Śmietański Hernia Center in Gdańsk (LUX MED Hospital) with collaboration from Medical University of Gdańsk. The study focuses on patient-centered outcomes in women with postpartum abdominal wall insufficiency syndrome (PPAWIS), a condition characterized by variable combinations of abdominal wall dysfunction and psychosocial impact after childbirth.

Participants will complete standardized, validated PROMs capturing quality of life, body image, and sexual function. Assessments will be performed at baseline (at/around qualification for routine care) and at predefined follow-up time points (e.g., 6 and 12 months). Clinical and demographic variables relevant for interpretation (e.g., time since last delivery, BMI, coexisting abdominal wall findings, and type of routine care received) will be recorded in a structured manner.

The study is non-interventional: treatment decisions and clinical management are determined by clinicians and patients according to usual practice and are not assigned by the research protocol. The primary purpose is to quantify baseline burden and describe longitudinal changes in PROMs, and to explore associations between patient-reported outcomes and selected clinical characteristics to inform future standardization of assessment and care pathways.

Data will be collected and stored using pseudonymized study identifiers. Participation is voluntary and can be withdrawn at any time without affecting clinical care.

Inclusion criteria

• Female, age 18-65 years
• Postpartum status: at least 6 months after last delivery
• Clinical diagnosis of postpartum abdominal wall insufficiency syndrome (PPAWIS), defined by abdominal wall dysfunction symptoms and/or significant quality-of-life impact, with supportive findings on physical examination and/or imaging (e.g., diastasis recti and/or related abdominal wall insufficiency features)
• Receiving routine clinical care for PPAWIS at the study site (surgical)
• Able and willing to provide informed consent and complete patient-reported outcome questionnaires at baseline and follow-up

Exclusion criteria

• Current pregnancy
• Planned pregnancy during the follow-up period (up to 12 months), if expected to interfere with outcome assessment
• Inability to complete questionnaires due to cognitive impairment or insufficient language proficiency in the validated questionnaire language version
• Severe uncontrolled psychiatric condition that, in the investigator's opinion, would prevent informed consent or reliable questionnaire completion
• Participation in another interventional study that could materially affect patient-reported outcomes related to abdominal wall function during the follow-up period