Predictors of Regret among Older Men after Stress Urinary Incontinence Treatment Decisions

When seeking treatment for male stress urinary incontinence (mSUI), patients are faced with weighing complex risks and benefits in making treatment decisions within their individual context. We sought to quantify the frequency of decisional regret among this population and to determine factors associated with regret.

A cohort of 130 males aged ≥65 years seen for initial mSUI consultation at the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center and the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center between June 2015 and March 2020 was developed. Using retrospective chart review and telephone interviews, we ascertained decisional regret as well as other patient-, disease- and treatment-related characteristics. Decisional regret was analyzed by treatment type and patient-, disease- and treatment-related factors. Multivariable logistic regression models were built to examine the factors most associated with decisional regret.

Among the entire cohort, 22% reported moderate to severe decisional regret. Regret was highest among those electing conservative management, with 34.7% having decisional regret (vs with surgery: 8.3% sling, 8.2% sphincter; p <0.001). In multivariable analysis, depression, lower rating of shared decision making and higher current incontinence scores were significantly associated with decisional regret.

Recognition of depression, improved efforts at shared decision making and more individualized treatment counseling have the potential to improve patient satisfaction with treatment choice. In addition, given high levels of regret among those electing conservative treatment, we may be underutilizing mSUI surgery in this population.