Quality of life after surgery for stress incontinence.
This study investigated changes in condition-specific quality of life (QOL) after surgery for stress urinary incontinence. Data from 655 women in a clinical trial comparing the Burch and fascial sling were examined. Improvement in QOL, measured with the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (mean decrease 133.1; SD 109.8), was observed 6 months after surgery and persisted at 24 months. Women for whom surgery was successful (regardless of surgery type) had greater improvement in QOL (mean decrease 160.0; SD 103.9) than did women for whom surgery was not successful (mean decrease 113.6; SD 110.9; p < 0.0001), although not statistically significant after adjusting for covariates. Multivariable analysis showed that QOL improvement was related to decreased urinary incontinence (UI) symptom bother, greater improvement in UI severity, younger age, Hispanic ethnicity, and receiving Burch surgery. Among sexually active women, worsening sexual function had a negative impact on QOL. Improved QOL was explained most by UI symptom improvement.
Tennstedt
S L
SL
New England Research Institutes, 9 Galen Street, Watertown, MA, 02472, USA. stennstedt@neriscience.com
Litman
H J
HJ
Zimmern
P
P
Ghetti
C
C
Kusek
J W
JW
Nager
C W
CW
Mueller
E R
ER
Kraus
S R
SR
Varner
E
E
D000328:Adult; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005205:Fascia / Q000637:transplantation; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000601:surgery*