SEAPI Incontinence Classification System: 1-Year Postoperative Results Following Midurethral Sling Placement

There are limited long-term data that has examined postoperative quality-of-life measures following placement of midurethral sling (MUS) for stress urinary incontinence (SUI). The SEAPI incontinence questionnaire includes 5 data points that rate severity of specific urinary symptoms. Our aim was to describe changes in SEAPI questionnaire outcomes 1 year following sling placement.

We retrospectively reviewed women who underwent MUS for SUI from 2005 to 2012. We included those women who had completed preoperative and postoperative (>12 months) SEAPI scores. Individual S, E, A, P, I score cure was defined as postoperative score of 0 (>0 preoperative). Logistic regression analysis was used to model the effects of patient characteristics on incontinence cure and S, E, A, P, I scores.

A total of 584 women were included. Median follow-up was 25.4 months (12-126.8 months). Follow-up duration and baseline S, P, and I scores were associated with significantly lower odds of overall incontinence cure, whereas rectocele grade has positive association (odds ratio, 1.31; P = 0.040). Type of sling did not impact overall incontinence cure or cure of individual SEAPI scores.

Preoperative S, P, and I scores had negative association with stress incontinence cure. Cure of individual S, E, A, P, I scores was impacted differently by various patient factors. The SEAPI questionnaire provides a unique profile of patient-reported and functional measures in women with SUI and may be helpful in those who undergo MUS.