Patient Satisfaction and QoL in SUI: Results With Single-Incision or Full-Length Slings

Understanding treatment impact on quality of life of patients with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in the short- and long-term is vital to optimizing treatment success.

This study aimed to report 36-month patient satisfaction and quality of life results from a 522 study of single-incision and full-length slings in SUI.

This was a secondary analysis of the Altis 522 study, a prospective, multicenter, nonrandomized, noninferiority cohort study comparing the Altis single-incision sling to full-length slings for the treatment of SUI. The current study endpoints are patient-reported outcomes on quality of life related to continence status at 6, 12, 18, 24, and 36 months, measured through patient-reported, validated questionnaires: Urogenital Distress Inventory, Incontinence Impact Questionnaire, Patient Global Impression of Improvement, and Surgical Satisfaction Questionnaire.

A total of 355 women underwent the sling procedure (184, Altis group; 171, comparator group). At 36 months, 140 (76.0%) of Altis and 101 (59.1%) of comparator group patients were assessed. Patient Global Impression of Improvement at 36 months indicated that 92.9% of Altis and 90.1% of comparator patients reported that their condition was "very much better" or "much better" ( P  = 0.444). Urogenital Distress Inventory at 36 months indicated improvement in quality of life in both groups with a mean change from baseline of 41.7 ± 19.3 (Altis group; n = 140) versus 44.4 ± 22.2 (comparator group; n = 101) ( P  = 0.305). The Incontinence Impact Questionnaire indicated average quality-of-life improvement of 50% in both groups from presurgery to 36 months, with a mean change from baseline of 51.8 ± 25.8 (Altis group) versus 50.2 ± 25.1 (comparator group) ( P  = 0.619).

This 36-month study demonstrated the lasting, positive effect that surgical intervention can have on patients with SUI.