Assessment of the Incidence and Risk Factors of Stress Urinary Incontinence in Women after Cervical Cancer Surgery: A Single-Centre Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a common postoperative complication that significantly affects the quality of life in women who have undergone radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer. This study evaluates the incidence and risk factors associated with SUI in women after cervical cancer surgery.

METHODS

This case-control study included women diagnosed with cervical cancer who underwent radical hysterectomy at our hospital between May 2020 and May 2023. Participants were divided into two groups based on the presence of postoperative SUI, namely the SUI group and the SUI-free group. Inclusion criteria required the absence of preoperative urinary incontinence and stable vital signs. Data were collected on demographic characteristics, tumour histology and staging, urodynamic parameters, and intraoperative and postoperative factors.

RESULTS

Ninety-seven patients with cervical cancer who underwent radical hysterectomy were divided into two groups: The SUI group (n = 27) and the SUI-free group (n = 70), with an SUI incidence of 27.8% in the study population. Significant differences between the SUI and SUI-free groups were observed in menopausal status ( = 0.026), chronic constipation ( = 0.011), and tumour diameter ( < 0.001). Urodynamic assessments revealed a higher maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) in the SUI group compared to the SUI-free group (21.36 ± 6.41 vs. 17.38 ± 5.18 mL/s; = 0.002). Logistic regression analysis identified menopause (odds ratio (OR) = 7.700, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.256-47.192), chronic constipation (OR = 9.918, 95% CI = 1.387-70.911), Qmax (OR = 1.302, 95% CI = 1.061-1.598), and surgery duration (OR = 1.040, 95% CI = 1.001-1.081) as independent protective factors.

CONCLUSIONS

SUI is a significant postoperative complication in women undergoing cervical cancer surgery. Menopause, chronic constipation, tumour diameter, Qmax, and surgery duration were independent risk factors.