Bariatric surgery improves urinary incontinence in morbidly obese individuals
Presented at the 24th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery, June 11–16, 2007, San Diego, California
Received 16 May 2007; received in revised form 29 June 2007; accepted 13 August 2007. published online 18 October 2007.
Abstract
Background
Urinary incontinence is common in obese individuals. We report on the prevalence of urinary incontinence in patients undergoing bariatric surgery and the effect of surgically induced weight loss on urinary incontinence.
Methods
The prospectively collected data from 201 consecutive candidates for bariatric surgery were evaluated. The patients were surveyed using a questionnaire regarding the duration of incontinence, stress/urge incontinence symptoms, and incontinence severity before and after undergoing bariatric surgery. Severity was quantified using a validated index developed Data are presented as the mean ± standard deviation.
Results
Of 201 patients, 65 (32%) reported urinary incontinence. Of the 65 patients, 44 women and 1 man (age 49 ± 11 years, body mass index 48 ± 7 kg/m2) underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (n = 42) or laparoscopic-assisted gastric banding (n = 3). Of the 38 patients who reported mild (2%), moderate (48%), and severe (50%) urinary incontinence preoperatively who had complete follow-up at ≥6 months postoperatively, 19 (50%) had demonstrated resolution of urinary incontinence and 19 had reported residual slight-moderate (37%) or severe (13%) urinary incontinence. The overall severity score improved from 5.4 ± 2.3 to 2.3 ± 2.8 postoperatively (P <.001); the percentage of excess body weight loss was 61% ± 19%. The patients reported subjective improvement within 4 months postoperatively or after a 50-lb weight loss.
Conclusion
Urinary incontinence is prevalent in bariatric surgery patients. Surgically induced weight loss results in improvement or resolution of urinary incontinence in 82% of patients. The findings from this large cohort warrant additional investigation with urodynamic studies.
Weight Management and Metabolic Health Center, University of South Florida, Health Sciences Center, Tampa, Florida, USA
Reprint requests: Michel M. Murr, M.D., F.A.C.S., Department of Surgery, University of South Florida, c/o Tampa General Hospital, P.O. Box 1289, Suite F-145, Tampa, FL 33601.
ABSTRACT