Introduction: Uterine fibroids (myomas or leiomyomas) are the most common benign uterine neoplasm. Hysterectomy is the most effective treatment for symptomatic uterine fibroids and uterine fibroids are currently the most common indication for hysterectomy worldwide. Previous studies investigated the relationship between the previous hysterectomy for benign conditions and subsequent stress urinary incontinence (SUI). However, the results are inconsistent across the studies. Additionally, long-term follow-up data from large data sets are lacking. Moreover, the impact of the previous hysterectomy for benign indication on subsequent surgery for SUI is scarcely investigated. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on women aged 40 to 59 from the Korean Health Insurance Data 2010 to 2018. The hysterectomy group consisted of women who underwent hysterectomy for uterine leiomyoma and the control group consisted of women who visited a medical facility for a checkup between January, 2011 and December, 2014. Main outcome measures included the occurrence of stress incontinence surgery (R3564, R3565, R3562, R3563) with a urinary incontinence diagnosis code (N39.3, N39.4). For the selected hysterectomy group and control group, 1:1 propensity score matching was done on age at 5-year intervals, year at inclusion, socioeconomic status, parity, region, Charlson Comorbidity Index, adnexal surgery before inclusion, menopause before inclusion, menopausal hormone therapy, and pelvic organ prolapse before inclusion. Results: After 1:1 propensity score matching, 81,373 cases and 81,373 controls were enrolled. The mean follow-up period was 7.9 years for cases and 7.8 years for control subjects. The rate of anti-incontinence surgery was significantly higher in the hysterectomy group compared to the non-hysterectomy group (1.7 vs. 2.0%; p<.001). As compared to the non-hysterectomy group, abdominal hysterectomy significantly increased anti-incontinence surgery before and after adjusting confounders (HR: 1.215; 95% CI: 1.097-1.347; p<.001). However, laparoscopic hysterectomy, laparoscopic hysterectomy with adnexal surgery, and abdominal hysterectomy with adnexal surgery did not increase anti-incontinence surgery as compared to the non-hysterectomy group before and after adjusting confounders. This significant relationship between abdominal hysterectomy and anti-incontinence surgery was maintained after stratifying patients according to age group. Conclusions: In conclusion, hysterectomy, especially transabdominal hysterectomy significantly increases the risk of subsequent anti-incontinence surgery. Our data suggest that patients who plan to undergo transabdominal hysterectomy for the treatment of uterine fibroids should know and be counseled about the risk of SUI and especially the risk of anti-incontinence surgery. SOURCE OF Funding: None
