Prevalence of urinary symptoms in morbidly obese women and changes after bariatric surgery

To evaluate the impact of rapid weight loss following bariatric surgery on urinary symptom frequency and overall quality of life.

Validated questionnaires (Urinary Distress Inventory [UDI-6] and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire [IIQ-7]), were mailed to all women who underwent bariatric surgery at Temple University Hospital between January 2004 and March 2006. McNemar test of paired proportions was used for analysis.

Mean body mass index prior to surgery was 47.5 and after surgery was 31.0, with an average weight loss of 49.2 kg. About half the subjects had stress incontinence, 32% had frequency and 24.8% had urgency at baseline. Twenty-six percent of the subjects were frustrated and emotionally distressed by the urinary symptoms at baseline, while one fifth reported interference with performing household chores, travel and other activities. There was a significant improvement in stress incontinence (p < 0.001), frequency and leakage of any degree and overall quality of life subsequent to surgery.

Body mass index has a significant effect on urinary symptoms as an independent factor. We report a marked improvement in stress incontinence symptom frequency and symptom bother with rapid weight loss subsequent to bariatric surgery in morbidly obese women.