Risk Factors for De Novo Overactive Bladder After Midurethral Sling

The low incidence of de novo overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms after a midurethral sling (MUS) procedure better informs preoperative counseling.

The study aimed to measure the incidence and risk factors for de novo OAB after MUS.

This was a retrospective cohort study of de novo OAB symptoms in patients who underwent MUS surgery in a health maintenance organization between January 1, 2008, and September 30, 2016. Patients were identified using Current Procedural Terminology codes for MUS and International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes for urinary urgency, frequency, nocturia, OAB, and urgency urinary incontinence (UUI). The cohort of patients was identified by the absence of these International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes 12 months preoperatively and the presence of these codes within 6 months after surgery. This cohort was used to calculate the rate of de novo OAB after MUS surgery. Clinical and demographic factors were abstracted. Statistical analysis was performed using descriptive, χ2 , simple logistic, and multiple logistic regression.

During the study period, 13,893 patients underwent MUS surgery and 6,634 met the inclusion criteria. The mean age was 56.9 years, mean parity was 2.76, and mean body mass index was 28.9 (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared). Of these, 410 (6.1%) developed de novo OAB within 12 months. The most common symptoms were urgency (65.4%), UUI (42.2%), and frequency (19.8%). On multivariable regression modeling, de novo urgency and UUI were not associated with concurrent surgery ( P < 0.05). Increasing age and body mass index were associated with an increased risk of nocturia ( P < 0.05).

The incidence of de novo OAB after MUS surgery was 6.1%. This aligns with current literature and critically informs preoperative counseling for MUS surgery.