ORIGINAL ARTICLE Patient reported outcome measures in women undergoing surgery for urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse in Denmark, 2006–2011 Rikke Guldberg & Ulrik Schiøler Kesmodel & Jesper Kjær Hansen & Kim Oren Gradel & Søren Brostrøm & Linda Kærlev & Bente Mertz Nørgård Received: 3 July 2012 / Accepted: 14 October 2012 / Published online: 14 November 2012 # The International Urogynecological Association 2012 Abstract Introduction and hypothesis The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of urogynecological surgery on quality of life based on patient reported outcome measures (PROMs). Methods Data were retrieved from the Danish Urogynaeco- logical Database. Inclusion criteria were Danish women undergoing surgery for urinary incontinence (UI) or pelvic organ prolapse (POP) from 2006 to 2011. Using frequency of symptoms and a visual analogue scale (VAS) both pre- and postoperatively, their severity of symptoms and quality of life were measured by questionnaires. Results During the study period, 20,629 urogynecological procedures were performed. The questionnaires on severity of symptoms and the VAS had been completed both pre- and postoperatively for approximately one third of women un- dergoing surgery. For UI surgery, 83 % had improved symptoms, 13 % were unchanged, and 4 % had worse symptoms postoperatively. For POP surgery, 80, 17, and 3 % were improved, unchanged, and worsened, respectively. The postoperative bother of symptoms and interference in everyday life evaluated by VAS were significantly reduced for both UI [preoperative median VAS score 9, postopera- tive median score 1 (p <0.001)] and POP [8 preoperatively and 0 postoperatively (p <0.001)]. Conclusions Based on PROMs, surgery for UI and POP is effective in alleviating symptoms associated with UI or POP, and it can improve quality of life in symptomatic women. Pre- and postoperative questionnaires are useful tools in assessing symptomatic outcome measures after surgery. Keywords Patient reported outcome measures . Pelvic organ prolapse . Quality of life . Questionnaire . Urinary incontinence . Visual analogue scale Abbreviations UI Urinary incontinence POP Pelvic organ prolapse VAS Visual analogue scale DugaBase Danish National Urogynaecological Database PROMs Patient reported outcome measures ASA American Society of Anesthesiologists classification BMI Body mass index Introduction The Danish Urogynaecological Database (DugaBase) was established in 2006 to provide systematic data on urinary incontinence (UI) and pelvic organ prolapse (POP) surgery in Denmark. The registry is used to monitor, ensure, and R. Guldberg : J. K. Hansen : K. O. Gradel : L. Kærlev : B. M. Nørgård Research Unit of Clinical Epidemiology, Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark R. Guldberg (*) : J. K. Hansen : K. O. Gradel : L. Kærlev : B. M. Nørgård Centre for National Clinical Databases, South, Odense University Hospital, Sdr. Boulevard 29, Entrance 101, 4th floor, 5000 Odense C, Denmark e-mail: Rikke.guldberg.soerensen@ouh.regionsyddanmark.dk U. S. Kesmodel Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark S. Brostrøm Department of Hospital Services and Emergency Management, Danish Health and Medicines Authority, Copenhagen, Denmark Int Urogynecol J (2013) 24:1127–1134 DOI 10.1007/s00192-012-1979-5