Operations for stress urinary incontinence in the United States, 1988-1992.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the frequency and cost of operations for stress urinary incontinence in the United States.

METHODS

We reviewed data from the 1988-1992 National Hospital Discharge Surveys and the 1991 California Office of Statewide Health Planning Survey. We determined the frequency and type of surgical procedures performed for stress urinary incontinence and estimated the total direct costs of these operations in the United States.

RESULTS

From 1988 to 1992, the total number of operations for stress incontinence increased from 78,000 to over 100,000. The rate of operations increased most in women older than 65 years of age. The total direct cost for treatment of stress urinary incontinence in the United States in 1991 was about $0.5 billion.

CONCLUSIONS

Operations for treatment of stress urinary incontinence are increasing in frequency in the United States. They are both more commonly performed and more costly than have been previously reported.