Which factors determine subjective improvement following pelvic organ prolapse 1 year after surgery?

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

The factors influencing a patient's subjective improvement 1 year after pelvic organ prolapse (POP) surgery were studied.

METHODS

Women after POP surgery were divided into improved and non-improved group based on their score on the questionnaire Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I) 1 year after surgery. Anatomical and functional outcomes were assessed as influencing factors for improvement using multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

Three hundred eighty-six (386) women were included in the study, of whom 40 (10%) had not subjectively improved. First POP operation, symptoms and bother of genital prolapse and overactive bladder, and anterior compartment anatomy were independent factors related to subjective improvement. A threshold needed to be reached in these parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

The first operation was more often associated with subjective improvement, and both anatomical and functional outcomes were of importance. The mere finding of a statistical significant improvement was no guarantee for subjective improvement after POP surgery.