Prevalence and cost of surgical treatment for female stress urinary incontinence in Brazil: A comparison between abdominal and vaginal approaches.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Report the progress of the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in Brazil through vaginal and abdominal approaches and the direct costs by hospitalisation, using DATASUS-a public entity of the Strategic and Participative Management Secretary of Health Ministry, with the responsibility of collecting, processing, and disseminating public health information. DESIGN: Epidemiological study using the Brazilian Public Health Data Center System (DATASUS). PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, AND METHODS: Data were collected on all hospital admissions associated with treatment from 2008 to 2019 from the DATASUS. We analysed the records of hospitalisations associated with an abdominal or vaginal surgical SUI treatment. RESULTS: The total number of procedures for the treatment of female SUI performed from 2008 to 2019 was 84.378, of which 70 238 were vaginal and 14 140 abdominal. There was an overall decrease in the number of SUI procedures in Brazil over the years analysed (F = 52.72; P < .0001); only exception was the South region (F = 1.38; P = .267). A declining trend was identified for the abdominal approach, with an increased trend of the vaginal approach (F = 170.11; P < .0001). A declining number of hospitalisation days was noted in the vaginal procedures (P = .002). Despite the fact that no differences were noted between abdominal and vaginal expenses (P = .054), hospital expenditure increased over the years for both vaginal and abdominal approaches, with no significant differences between either approaches. However, a statistically significant professional expenditure was observed in the abdominal approach (P < .001). Analysing hospitalisation and professional expenses, the total mean in the period was statistically higher for the abdominal approach (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: The number of procedures to treat female SUI in Brazil has decreased from 2008 to 2019. Total financial expenditure per procedure and length of hospital stay were both higher for the abdominal approach (Burch colposuspension). A preference for a vaginal approach (pubovaginal sling or midurethral sling) has increased significantly since 2008, and our study favours this approach.