Impact of the Midurethral Sling Procedure on Quality of Life in Women with Urinary Incontinence

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study was designed to objectively assess the impediment of incontinence to quality of life (QoL) in females and its improvement by the midurethral sling (MUS) procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From June 2006 to June 2007, 93 female patients underwent the MUS procedure at our institute because of urinary incontinence. The incontinence quality of life (I-QoL) questionnaire was administered to measure the QoL of the incontinent patients before and 1 and 12 months after the MUS procedure. Preoperative data and urodynamic factors were analyzed retrospectively by I-QoL scores to identify factors that may affect the QoL of incontinent patients. RESULTS: The average preoperative I-QoL score of the 93 patients was 61.1+/-21.0 points. At 1 year after surgery, the average I-QoL score was found to have improved to 98.4+/-20.7 points. There were no significant differences between stress and mixed urinary incontinence in terms of cure and satisfaction (p>0.05). I-QoL scores of the cured and improved patients increased at 1 year after surgery (p0.05). Although urinary urgency and large urine leak amounts significantly reduced preoperative QoL in incontinent patients, the MUS procedure effectively improved the QoL regardless of these factors. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative I-QoL assessment revealed a significant impairment of QoL in incontinent women, but the MUS procedure effectively improved these women's QoL.