Urinary Continence Resolution after Bariatric Surgery: Long-Term Results after Six-Year Follow-Up

Bariatric surgery is known to improve stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and overactive bladder disorders (OAB). However, there is little long-term follow-up in the literature.

To determine the long-term effect of bariatric procedures on SUI and OAB and their impact on quality of life, we applied the ICIQ and USP questionnaires.

The research was conducted at a French university hospital with expertise in bariatric surgery.

We performed an updated follow-up at 6 years of a prospective cohort of 83 women who underwent a bariatric procedure between September 2013 and September 2014. The women completed the USP and ICIQ questionnaires before surgery, 1 year and 6 years after the surgery.

Of the 83 patients, 67 responded (80.7%) in full. SUI remained improved at 6 years: the USP score decreased from 3 [1; 7] before surgery to 0 [0; 1] (p = 0.0010) at 1 year after surgery and remained at 0 [0; 0] (p = 0.0253) at 6 years. The decrease in the OAB symptom score remained statistically significant: 3 [1; 7] before the surgery vs. 2 [0; 5] at 6 years (p = 0.0150). However, this improvement was significantly less pronounced than at 1 year: 0 [0; 1] (p = 0.002).

Bariatric surgery seems to be effective at treating SUI and OAB with a long-lasting effects, still noted at 6 years.