Patient Risk Factors Associated with Reported Urinary Quality of Life Following Artificial Urinary Sphincter Placement: A Paired Pre and Postoperative Analysis

OBJECTIVE To evaluate potential associations between patient risk factors and incontinence related patient -reported outcome measures (PROMs) preandpost artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) implantation. We hypothesize patient risk factors, including prior radiation and diabetes will have a negative association with post AUS PROMs.METHODS A review of prospectively collected preandpostoperative Incontinence Symptom Index [ISI] and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-7 (IIQ-7)s from multiple institutions in the Trauma and Urologic Reconstruction Network of Surgeons was performed. Changes in preandpost AUS ISI and IIQ-7 scores were compared for the entire cohort then stratified by patients with prior AUS, obesity, diabetes, prior radiation, and mixed urinary incontinence.RESULTS A total of 145 patients, 67.2 (SD 10.9) years had complete preandpost AUS questionnaires (median follow up 186 days, IQR 136-362). Post AUS ISI and IIQ-7 scores improved significantly for the group at large. Prior radiation was associated with less improvement in total IIQ-7 scores,-25.5 (31.9) vs-39 (33.0), P = .03. Obesity was associated with a greater reduction in inconti-nence severity-13.6 (SD 9.1) vs-9.2 (SD 8.9), P < 0.01, urge -5.2(SD 4.2) vs -2.5(SD 4.5), P <.01, and total ISI score -29.7(SD19.7) vs-21.2 (SD 19.9), P = .02. Prior AUS, diabetes, and mixed incontinence were not associated with post AUS PROMs outcome.CONCLUSION Overall, patients reported a significant reduction in incontinence severity, bother, impact, and distress following AUS placement. Prior radiation was associated with less improvement in total IIQ-7 scores. In contrast, obesity demonstrated a greater reduction in ISI severity and urge scores com-pared to non-obese patients. UROLOGY 169: 226-232, 2022. (c) 2022 Elsevier Inc.