The age distribution, rates, and types of surgery for stress urinary incontinence in the USA

The objective of this study was to describe the distribution of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) surgery across age groups in the USA in 2003. Patients were grouped into four age categories: reproductive, perimenopausal, postmenopausal, and elderly. Data from the 2003 National Hospital Discharge Survey and National Census were used to estimate surgical rates by age group. In 2003, 129,778 women underwent 165,776 surgical procedures for SUI. Of these women, 12.2, 53.0, 30.4, and 4.5% belonged to reproductive, perimenopausal, postmenopausal, and elderly age groups, respectively. Surgical rates (per 10,000 women) were 4, 17, 19, and 9 in these age groups, respectively. Complications occurred most frequently in reproductive age women. Overall, SUI surgical rates were similar for perimenopausal and postmenopausal women and exceeded that in the elderly population. The greatest percentage of surgical procedures occurred in perimenopausal women. Women at all stages of reproductive life may seek surgical treatment for SUI. This paper was presented at the annual meeting of the American Urogynecologic Society, Palm Springs, CA, October 19–21, 2006.