title: Patient reported outcome measures in women undergoing surgery for urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse in Denmark, 2006-2011.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of urogynecological surgery on quality of life based on patient reported outcome measures (PROMs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were retrieved from the Danish Urogynaecological Database. Inclusion criteria were Danish women undergoing surgery for urinary incontinence (UI) or pelvic organ prolapse (POP) from 2006 to 2011. Using frequency of symptoms and a visual analogue scale (VAS) both pre- and postoperatively, their severity of symptoms and quality of life were measured by questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study period, 20,629 urogynecological procedures were performed. The questionnaires on severity of symptoms and the VAS had been completed both pre- and postoperatively for approximately one third of women undergoing surgery. For UI surgery, 83% had improved symptoms, 13% were unchanged, and 4% had worse symptoms postoperatively. For POP surgery, 80, 17, and 3% were improved, unchanged, and worsened, respectively. The postoperative bother of symptoms and interference in everyday life evaluated by VAS were significantly reduced for both UI [preoperative median VAS score 9, postoperative median score 1 (p < 0.001)] and POP [8 preoperatively and 0 postoperatively (p < 0.001)].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on PROMs, surgery for UI and POP is effective in alleviating symptoms associated with UI or POP, and it can improve quality of life in symptomatic women. Pre- and postoperative questionnaires are useful tools in assessing symptomatic outcome measures after surgery.
authors.affiliation: Research Unit of Clinical Epidemiology, Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark. Rikke.guldberg.soerensen@ouh.regionsyddanmark.dk
authors.forename: Rikke
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guldberg
authors.forename: Ulrik Schiøler
authors.initials: US
authors.lastname: Kesmodel
authors.forename: Jesper Kjær
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Kim Oren
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Gradel
authors.forename: Søren
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brostrøm
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kærlev
authors.forename: Bente Mertz
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Nørgård
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D056887:Pelvic Organ Prolapse / Q000601:surgery*; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult