The influence of age and health status for outcomes after mid-urethral sling surgery—a nationwide register study

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The efficacy of mid-urethral sling (MUS) surgery in older women and women with a significant disease burden is limited. We aimed to determine the influence of chronological age and physical status (assessed by the American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status, ASA) classification on outcomes. METHODS: Cure rate, change in frequency of lower urinary tract symptoms, satisfaction, impact, and adverse events after MUS surgery were assessed in 5200 women aged 55–94 years with MUS surgery (2010–2017). Data were analysed by multivariate logistic regression and Mantel-Haenszel chi-square statistics. RESULTS: The cure rate was 64.2% (95% CI, 60.0–68.4) in the ≥ 75-year cohort compared to 88.5% (95% CI, 87.1–89.8) in the 55–64-year cohort (trend p < 0.0001). The estimated probability of cure, improvement, and satisfaction with the procedure decreased by aOR(10yr) = 0.51 for cure to aOR(10yr) = 0.59 for satisfaction (all p < 0.0001). Women with a significant health burden (ASA class 3–4) had lower cure rates and satisfaction than those without (65.5% vs. 83.7%, p < 0.0001 and 65.7% vs. 80.6%, p < 0.0001). Older age was more likely to be associated with de novo urgency (p = 0.0022) and nocturia ≥ 2 (p < 0.0001). Adverse events, readmission, and 30-day mortality rates were low. Women, irrespective of age, were equally satisfied if they experienced a decrease of at least one step in leakage frequency. CONCLUSIONS: Even if MUS surgery in older women and those with ASA class 3–4 was associated with a lower cure rate and less satisfactory outcome, a majority were satisfied provided they experienced a reduction of incontinence episodes. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00192-022-05364-6.