Outcome of mid-urethral sling procedures in Korean women with stress urinary incontinence according to body mass index

Background: The objective of this study was to determine whether the outcome of mid‐urethral sling procedures is influenced by the body mass index of Korean women suffering from stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Methods: A total of 285 women, ranging in age from 28 to 80 years (mean 55.4), all of whom were followed up for at least 6 months, were ultimately included in this study. The patients were classified as follows: normal weight, 18.5–23 kg/m2; overweight, 23–27.5 kg/m2; obesity, 27.5 kg/m2 or higher. Results: We noted bladder perforations in 11 cases (4.9%, 3.8% and 2.2% in the normal weight, overweight, and obesity groups, respectively; P = 0.449). We determined there to be no significant differences among the three groups with regard to cure rate (P = 0.173). The rates of postoperative urinary retention were 9.9% in the normal weight group, 10.1% in the overweight group, and 15.6% in the obesity group (P = 0.396). We determined there to be no significant differences among the three groups with regard to the persistence of urgency (P = 0.312). Seventy‐nine patients (27.7%) exhibited symptoms indicative of voiding disorder (hesitancy, poor flow, or sensations of incomplete emptying). The postoperative development of these voiding symptoms was not significantly different among the three groups (P = 0.106). Conclusion: Our results demonstrate both the feasibility and the safety of mid‐urethral sling procedures for obese Korean women who suffer from SUI. Additional studies, including prospective randomized trials with longer follow‐up periods, will be required in order to confirm these findings.