Impacts of Bariatric Surgery on Improvement of Incontinence Among Obese Asian Women: A Prospective Study and Literature Review

IntroductionLimited studies investigate bariatric surgery's role in improving UI status among Asians, specifically Middle Eastern Asian women. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of bariatric surgery on the three most prevalent urine incontinence (UI).We also reviewed the current literature exploring the studies performed in Asian countries.Materials and MethodsA total of 77 women out of 200 who had UI and indications for bariatric surgery completed demographic information and the questionnaire (QUID) prior to surgery and 6 months after the surgery. For statistical analysis, the Mann-Whitney U test, Wilcoxon test, and Friedman test were utilized. We also performed a literature review with the aim of investigating studies performed in Asian countries.ResultsAmong the initial analysis of 200 participants, 50.5% reported UI symptoms before surgery. The average weight loss was 29 kg, with a standard deviation of 7 kg. The mean BMI dropped 11.2 kg/m2, and the standard deviation was 2.5 after weight loss. Post-surgery, significant reductions in UI scores were observed across all severity levels, with a notable 44% achieving complete symptom resolution, indicating a substantial decrease in urinary incontinence. Stress, urine incontinence, and mixed urine incontinence symptoms had improved in 75%, 71%, and 30% of women, respectively. Notably, age and gynecological history were identified as critical factors influencing the extent of UI improvement.ConclusionThis study reveals significant improvements in urinary incontinence scores, with age and gynecological history playing pivotal roles in UI improvement.