The Efficacy of Mid-Urethral Sling Procedures, Transobturator Tape and Tension-Free Vaginal Tape in the Treatment of Female Stress Urinary Incontinence: A Comparative Study of Twelve Months Follow-Up After Surgery

Although urinary incontinence (UI) is not a life-threatening problem, it is a public health condition that affects approximately 35%-50% of women worldwide with physical, psychological, social, and economic implications (1, 2). UI is also a major factor contributing to nursing home admission and hospital readmission among older women with comorbid conditions such as diabetes mellitus and hypertension (3, 4). Moreover, the total economic cost of urinary incontinence annually is estimated to be $19.5 billion in the United States (5) and £740 million in the United Kingdom (6).