Characteristics Associated With Treatment Failure 1 Year After Midurethral Sling in Women With Mixed Urinary Incontinence

Vivian W. Sung, Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island; the Division of Urogynecology and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama; the Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; the Division of Urogynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina; the Division of Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Kaiser Permanente, Downey, California; the Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; the Division of Urogynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico; the Center for Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery, Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio; the Department of Physical Therapy, Rangos School of Health Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland; and Social, Statistical, & Environmental Sciences, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
Holly E. Richter
Pamela Moalli
Alison C. Weidner
John N. Nguyen
Ariana L. Smith
Gena Dunivan
Beri Ridgeway
Diane Borello-France
Diane K. Newman
Donna Mazloomdoost
Benjamin Carper
Marie G. Gantz

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate characteristics associated with treatment failure 1 year after midurethral sling in women with mixed urinary incontinence. METHODS: Four-hundred three women who participated in a randomized trial that compared midurethral sling and behavioral and pelvic floor muscle therapy (combined group) compared with midurethral sling alone for mixed incontinence with 1-year follow-up data were eligible for this planned secondary analysis. Overall treatment failure was defined as meeting criteria for subjective or objective failure or both. Subjective failure was defined as not meeting the minimal clinical important difference for improvement on the UDI (Urogenital Distress Inventory) total score (26.1 points). Objective failure was defined as not achieving 70% improvement on mean incontinence episodes of any type per day or having undergone any additional treatment for persistent urinary symptoms at 12 months postoperative. Logistic regression models for treatment failure were constructed. Independent variables included site and treatment group, and clinical and demographic variables based on bivariate comparisons (P < .2). Treatment group interaction effects were evaluated. RESULTS: One hundred twelve of 379 (29.6%) women had overall treatment failure, with 56 of 379 (14.7%) undergoing additional treatment but only two needing intervention for stress incontinence. Previous overactive bladder (OAB) medication (unadjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.19, adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.96, 95% CI 1.17-3.31); detrusor overactivity on cystometrogram (OR 2.25, aOR 2.82, 95% CI 1.60-4.97); and higher volume at first urge (OR 1.03, aOR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.07) were associated with overall failure. Worse UDI-urgency scores were associated with failure, with an added interaction effect in the midurethral sling-alone group. CONCLUSIONS: Certain clinical and urodynamic variables are associated with treatment failure after midurethral sling in women with mixed urinary incontinence. Women with more severe urgency symptoms at baseline may benefit from perioperative behavioral and pelvic floor muscle therapy combined with midurethral sling. Overall, the need for additional urinary treatment was low and primarily for OAB. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01959347.