title: Changing trends of surgical approaches for uterine prolapse: an 11-year population-based nationwide descriptive study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The interest of uterus-preserving surgery has been growing. Based on a nationwide database, we examined surgical procedures for uterine prolapse in Taiwan during the study period of 1997-2007, a total of 11 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  The operations, either uterine suspension or hysterectomy, due to the diagnosis of uterine prolapse were indentified into the study. Data on several parameters were collected for analysis, i.e., the surgical type, patient factors (age and concomitant anti-incontinence surgery), surgeon factors (age and gender), and hospital factors (accreditation level and ownership). Data of this study were obtained from the inpatient expenditures by admission files of the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). The NHIRD was established by the National Health Research Institute with the aim of promoting research into current and emerging medical issues in Taiwan.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 31,038 operations were identified for this study. There was a trend for increased use of uterine suspension with uterine preservation during the latter years, evidenced by joinpoint regression analyses. More women who were younger (<50 years) or had concomitant anti-incontinence surgery received uterine suspension. Younger surgeons (<50 years) and male surgeons tended to perform more uterine suspensions. As for hospital accreditation, more uterine suspension surgeries were performed in regional hospitals, followed by local hospitals and medical centers. As for hospital ownership, more uterine suspension surgeries were performed in private hospitals, followed by not-for-profit and government-owned hospitals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There has been a considerable change in the surgical approach for uterine prolapse in Taiwan over the past 11 years. Patient age and concomitant anti-incontinence surgery, surgeon age and gender, and hospital accreditation and ownership may correlate with the choice of surgery for women with uterine prolapse.
authors.affiliation: Division of Urogynecology and Pelvic Floor Reconstruction, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chi Mei Foundation Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ming-Ping
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Cheng-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: Kuan-Hui
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chin-Chen
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Ching-Chung
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Chao-Hsiun
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000068:Accreditation; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D006761:Hospitals / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013624:Taiwan; D014596:Uterine Prolapse / Q000601:surgery*