Urinary Incontinence Management Costs are Reduced Following Burch or Sling Surgery for Stress Incontinence Journal Article

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Authors: Subak, L. L.; Goode, P. S.; Brubaker, L; Kusek, J. W.; Schembri, M. M.; Lukacz, E. S.; Kraus, S. R.; Chai, T. C.; Norton, P.; Tennstedt, S. L.; Urinary Incontinence Treatment Network
Article Title: Urinary Incontinence Management Costs are Reduced Following Burch or Sling Surgery for Stress Incontinence
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effect of Burch and fascial sling surgery on out-of-pocket urinary incontinence (UI) management costs at 24 months post-operatively and identify predictors of change in cost among women enrolled in a randomized trial comparing these procedures. METHODS: Resources used for UI management (supplies, laundry, dry cleaning) were self-reported by 491 women at baseline and 24 months post-surgery and total out-of-pocket costs for UI management (in 2012 US dollars) were estimated. Data from the two surgical groups were combined to examine change in cost for UI management over 24 months. Univariate and bivariate changes in cost were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed rank test. Predictors of change in cost were examined using multivariate mixed models. RESULTS: At baseline mean (+/-SD) age of participants was 53+/-10 years, and frequency of weekly UI episodes was 23+/-21. Weekly UI episodes decreased by 86% at 24 months (P0.001). Mean weekly cost was $16.60+/-$27 (median $9.39) at baseline and $4.57+/-$15 (median $0.10) at 24 months (P0.001), a decrease of 72%. In multivariate analyses, cost decreased by $3.38+/-$0.77 per week for each decrease of 1 UI episode per day (P0.001) and was strongly associated with greater improvement in UDI and IIQ scores (P0.001) and decreased 24-hour pad weight (P0.02). CONCLUSION: Following Burch or fascial sling surgery, UI management cost at 24 months decreased by 72% ($625 per woman per year) and was strongly associated with decreasing UI frequency. Reduced out-of-pocket expenses may be a benefit of these established urinary incontinence procedures.
Journal Title: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Volume: 211
Issue: 2
ISSN: 1097-6868; 0002-9378
Publisher: Unknown  
Date Published: 2014
Start Page: 171.e1-7
Language: ENG
DOI/URL:

10.1016/j.ajog.2014.03.012

10.1016/j.ajog.2014.03.012
Notes: CI: Copyright (c) 2014; JID: 0370476; OTO: NOTNLM; 2013/10/23 [received]; 2014/01/29 [revised]; 2014/03/06 [accepted]; aheadofprint