Body mass index and outcome of incontinence surgery

Objective: To analyze the influence of body mass on the outcome of surgery for urinary incontinence. Methods: Among 291 women operated on for stress incontinence, 187 (64%) wer e available for follow-up at 5 years. Eighty women had anterior colporrhaph y, 49 anterior colporrhaphy with needle suspension of the bladder neck, and 58 Burch colposuspension. Body mass index was calculated preoperatively an d at follow-up. Women were classified as being of normal weight (body mass index [BMI] 20-25), overweight (BMI 26-30), or obese (BMI greater than 30). Reported continence rates were analyzed according to BMI for each operatio n and the BMIs of continent patients were compared with those of incontinen t patients. Results: The continence rates at 5-year follow-up for anterior colporrhaphy , anterior colporrhaphy with needle suspension of bladder neck, and Burch c olposuspension were 58, 51, and 86%, respectively (P < .001). The continenc e rates did not differ significantly among the three BMI groups for each pr ocedure. A statistical power of 26% was found for the hypothesis that the o utcome of the procedures does not depend on BMI. The preoperative and posto perative BMIs of continent and incontinent women for each procedure did not differ significantly. Conclusion:We did not find preoperative obesity to be a risk factor for fai lure of incontinence surgery, but the power of our study was limited. (C) 1 999 by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.