Racial and ethnic differences in reconstructive surgery for apical vaginal prolapse.

BACKGROUND: There is limited literature identifying racial and ethnic health disparities among surgical modalities and outcomes in the field of urogynecology and specifically pelvic organ prolapse surgery. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the differences in surgical approach for apical vaginal prolapse and postoperative complications by race and ethnicity. STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective cohort study of women undergoing surgical repair for apical vaginal prolapse between 2014 and 2017 using data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. Patients were eligible for inclusion if they underwent either vaginal colpopexy or abdominal sacrocolpopexy. Abdominal sacrocolpopexy cases were further divided into those performed by laparotomy and those performed by laparoscopy. Multivariable logistic regression models that controlled for age, comorbidities, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification, and concurrent surgery were used to determine whether race and ethnicity are associated with the type of colpopexy (vaginal vs abdominal) or the surgical route of abdominal sacrocolpopexy. Similar models that also controlled for surgical approach were used to assess 30-day complications by race and ethnicity. RESULTS: A total of 22,861 eligible surgical cases were identified, of which 12,337 (54%) were vaginal colpopexy and 10,524 (46%) were abdominal sacrocolpopexy. Among patients who had an abdominal sacrocolpopexy, 2262 (21%) were performed via laparotomy and 8262 (79%) via laparoscopy. The study population was 70% White, 9% Latina, 6% African American, 3% Asian, 0.6% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 0.4% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 11% unknown. In multivariable analysis, Asian and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander women were less likely to undergo abdominal sacrocolpopexy compared with White women (odds ratio, 0.82; 95% confidence interval, 0.68-0.99, and odds ratio, 0.56; 95% confidence interval, 0.39-0.82, respectively). Among women who underwent an abdominal sacrocolpopexy, Latina women and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander women were less likely to undergo a laparoscopic approach compared with White women (odds ratio, 0.68; 95% confidence interval, 0.58-0.79, and odds ratio, 0.31; 95% confidence interval, 0.1-0.56, respectively). Complication rates also differed by race and ethnicity. After a colpopexy, African American women were more likely to need a blood transfusion (odds ratio, 3.04; 95% confidence interval, 1.95-4.73; P≤.001) and have a deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolus (odds ratio, 2.46; 95% confidence interval, 1.10-5.48; P=.028), but less likely to present with postoperative urinary tract infections (odds ratio, 0.68; 95% confidence interval, 0.49-0.96; P=.028) than White women in multivariable regression models. Using the Clavien-Dindo classification system, Latina women had higher odds of developing grade II complications than White women in multivariable models (odds ratio, 1.25; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-1.51; P=.02). CONCLUSION: There are racial and ethnic differences in the type and route of surgical repair for apical vaginal prolapse. In particular, Latina and Pacific Islander women were less likely to undergo a laparoscopic approach to abdominal sacrocolpopexy compared with White women. Although complications were uncommon, there were several complications including blood transfusions that were higher among African American and Latina women. Additional studies are needed to better understand and describe associated factors for these differences in care and surgical outcomes.

Interpersonal Trauma as a Marker of Risk for Urinary Tract Dysfunction in Midlife and Older Women.

OBJECTIVE: To examine relationships between interpersonal trauma exposures and urinary symptoms in community-dwelling midlife and older women. METHODS: We analyzed cross-sectional data from a multiethnic cohort of women aged 40-80 years enrolled in an integrated health care system in California. Lifetime history of intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual assault, current posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and current urinary symptoms were assessed using structured-item questionnaires. Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models examined associations between traumatic exposures and PTSD symptoms with any weekly urinary incontinence, stress-type incontinence, urgency-type incontinence, and nocturia two or more times per night. RESULTS: Of the 1,999 participants analyzed, 21.7% women reported lifetime emotional IPV, 16.2% physical IPV, 19.7% sexual assault, and 22.6% reported clinically significant PTSD symptoms. Overall, 45% reported any weekly incontinence, 23% stress-type incontinence, 23% urgency-type incontinence, and 35% nocturia. Exposure to emotional IPV was associated with any weekly incontinence (odds ratio [OR] 1.33, 95% CI 1.04-1.70), stress-type incontinence (OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.00-1.65), urgency-type incontinence (OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.00-1.70), and nocturia (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.36-2.19). Physical IPV exposure was associated with nocturia (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.04-1.77), but not incontinence. Sexual assault history was not associated with weekly incontinence of any type or nocturia. Symptoms of PTSD were associated with all urinary symptoms assessed, including any weekly incontinence (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.15-1.85), stress-type incontinence (OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.32-2.20), urgency-type incontinence (OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.24-2.06), and nocturia (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.55-2.45). CONCLUSION: More than 20% of women in this multiethnic, community-based cohort reported a history of IPV, PTSD symptoms, or both, which were associated with symptomatic urinary tract dysfunction. Findings highlight the need to provide trauma-informed care of midlife and older women presenting with urinary symptoms.