Prevalence of urinary incontinence and prolapse after hysterectomy for benign disease versus gynecologic malignancy.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of UI and POP after hysterectomy for benign disease and gynecologic malignancy. This is a retrospective cohort chart review study. Two major urban tertiary care centers between 2006-2010. Women ≥ 18 years undergoing hysterectomy for benign or malignant indications.

Methods: Presence of UI and POP was based on patient report in clinic notes, ICD-9 UI and POP diagnosis codes, and CPT codes for treatment. Prevalence of UI and POP after hysterectomy and time to development of UI and POP after hysterectomy.

Results: 1363 (55%) women underwent hysterectomy for benign disease while 1107 (45%) had a hysterectomy for malignancy. Postoperative prevalence of UI and POP in the benign versus the malignant group was 15.1% vs 11.1% (p = 0.001), and 12.1% vs 2.8%, (p < 0.001), respectively. The median time to development of UI in the subset of patients without preoperative UI was 3.5 years in the benign group vs 3 years in the malignant group (p < 0.001). The median time to development of POP in the subset of patients without preoperative POP was 5 years in the benign group and 3.5 years in the malignant group (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the risk of developing UI or POP between groups after adjusting for confounders or when accounting for pre-hysterectomy UI or POP.

Conclusions: When pre-hysterectomy UI or POP is taken into consideration, there is no difference in the prevalence of post-hysterectomy UI or POP.