Quality of life before and after TVT, a prospective multicentre cohort study, results from the Netherlands TVT database

Abstract

Objective: To asses the long term outcome of tension-free vaginal tape procedure in women with isolated stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Twenty-eight teaching hospitals and 13 local hospitals, with 54 gynaecologists and urologists performing the surgery.

Sample: Eight hundred and nine participants.

Methods: The Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7) and the Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6) were used to measure the results of the TVT procedure (pre-operative at 2, 6, 12 and 24 months post-operative). According the recommendation of the International Continence Society (ICS), the question 'Do you experience urinary leakage during physical activity, coughing or sneezing?' was selected from the UDI to asses SUI.

Main outcome measures: Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7) and the Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6).

Results: Both IIQ and UDI mean scores decreased significantly after TVT, indicating an improvement in quality of life. Subjective improvement can improve for up to two years post-operatively.

Conclusions: This is the largest prospective study that used these validated disease-specific questionnaires to asses the long term outcome of the TVT procedure. This study shows a statistically significant and clinically relevant long term improvement of the quality of life after a TVT for women with SUI.