Surgical versus nonsurgical treatment selection patterns among Asian American patients with pelvic floor disorders: a matched cohort study

Introduction and hypothesis The objective was to determine if Asian racial identity was associated with the selection of surgical versus nonsurgical treatments for pelvic floor disorders (PFDs). Secondarily, we aimed to determine if there were other demographic or clinical characteristics associated with treatment selection patterns. Methods This was a retrospective matched cohort study that examined new patient visits (NPVs) of Asian patients at an academic urogynecology practice in Chicago, IL, USA. We included NPVs with primary diagnoses of anal incontinence, mixed urinary incontinence, stress urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, or pelvic organ prolapse. We identified Asian patients with self-identified racial identity recorded in the electronic medical records. Every Asian patient was age matched to white patients in a 1:3 ratio. The primary outcome was surgical versus nonsurgical treatment selection for their primary PFD diagnosis. Comparison of demographic and clinical variables between the two groups and multivariate logistic regression models were performed. Results A total of 53 Asian patients and 159 white patients were included in this analysis. Asian patients were less likely to be English speaking (92% vs 100%, p =0.004), endorse history of anxiety (17% vs 43%, p <0.001), and report history of any pelvic surgery (15% vs 34%, p =0.009) than white patients. When controlling for race, age, history of anxiety, depression, prior pelvic surgery, sexual activity, Pelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory, Colorectal–Anal Distress Inventory, and Urinary Distress Inventory scores, Asian racial identity (adjusted odds ratio 0.36 [95% CI 0.14–0.85]) was independently associated with decreased likelihood of choosing surgical treatments for PFDs. Conclusions Asian patients with PFDs were less likely than white patients to undergo surgical treatment for their PFDs despite similar demographic and clinical characteristics.