One-Year Outcomes of Mid-urethral Sling Procedures for Stress Urinary Incontinence According to Body Mass Index

PURPOSE The purpose of our study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of the suprapubic arch (SPARC) sling operation and the transobturator tape (MONARC) sling operation according to body mass index (BMI). MATERIALS AND METHODS Between January 1, 2004, and July 12, 2009, a retrospective clinical trial was performed with 284 patients treated by the SPARC sling procedure and 49 patients treated by the MONARC sling procedure. The women were classified into 3 groups by BMI according to the WHO Expert Consultation: normal weight (A, BMI 18.5 to 22.9 kg/m²), overweight (B, BMI 23 to 27.5 kg/m²), and obese (C, BMI>27.6 kg/m²). Patients' characteristics and clinical outcomes of the operation were analyzed according to BMI at 1 year after surgery via questionnaires and interviews with the patients about their voiding symptoms and medical records. RESULTS There were 103 patients in group A, 186 in group B, and 34 in group C. The objective cure rates for groups A, B, and C after the SPARC procedure were 94.4%, 96.7%, and 96.8%, respectively (p=0.321), and the subjective cure rates were 94.4%, 96.1%, and 96.8%, respectively (p=0.222). The objective cure rates for groups A, B, and C after the MONARC procedure were 100.0%, 90.9%, and 66.7%, respectively (p=0.742), and the subjective cure rates were 92.3%, 93.9%, and 66.7%, respectively (p=0.779). The complication rates were similar among the three study groups. CONCLUSIONS Mid-urethral sling procedures for urinary incontinence result in similar objective and subjective cure rates and postoperative complications irrespective of BMI.