Geripausal Women-A New Challenge for Urogynecology in Upcoming Years.

Background/

Objectives

The growing population of women aged ≥ 80 years poses a new challenge for urogynecology. Advanced age, comorbidities, and polypharmacy raise concerns regarding the safety of procedures in the management of pelvic floor disorders (PFDs) such as pelvic organ prolapse (POP), stress urinary incontinence (SUI), and overactive bladder (OAB). Individualized, frailty-based assessment is essential in this group. The aim of the study was to evaluate the safety profile of urogynecological surgical procedures among women aged ≥ 80 years at a single tertiary center.

Methods

In a retrospective observational single-center study, we analyzed the medical documentation of 774 hospitalizations of women aged ≥ 80 years admitted between 2014 and 2023. The analysis included indications, comorbidities, treatment types, anesthesia, and complications. Comorbidity and surgical risk were evaluated using the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and Clavien-Dindo classification.

Results

A total of 720 admissions with complete medical records were analyzed, of which 65% were for urogynecological conditions. In this group, the mean age was 83.0 years and mean BMI was 27.2 kg/m2. Most patients (92.9%) had comorbidities, mainly hypertension (84.2%) and diabetes (21.1%). POP was the leading indication (52%), followed by SUI (35%) and OAB (27%). Surgical management was performed in 95% of POP cases, predominantly via vaginal native tissue repair (80%), especially LeFort colpocleisis (20%). The transobturator sling (TOT) was the most frequent SUI surgery. Intraoperative complications occurred in 1.5% of cases and postoperative ones were mainly minor (Clavien-Dindo I-II). No procedure-related deaths were recorded.

Conclusions

In this cohort, surgical treatment of urogynecological problems in women ≥80 years was associated with a low rate of major complications, suggesting that it can be safely offered to elderly patients. Careful preoperative assessment based on frailty and comorbidity rather than chronological age remains essential.