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The following is a summary of “Effect of Patient Age on Decisional Regret After Laparoscopic Hysterectomy,” published in the December 2024 issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology by King et al.
Researchers conducted a retrospective study to compare long-term decisional regret between individuals aged 30 years or younger and those aged 31–49 years after laparoscopic hysterectomy for benign disease.
They included individuals who underwent laparoscopic hysterectomy for benign conditions (2009 and 2016). A total of 287 individuals were contacted, and 241 (84.0%) completed surveys, which included 2 validated scales for measuring surgical decision regret and regret related to fertility loss. Participants were grouped into those aged 30 or younger and those aged 31–49. Statistical methods were used for comparisons, including chi-square, Fisher exact, Wilcoxon rank sum tests, and logistic regression.
The results showed individuals aged 30 years or younger had higher rates of surgical regret (32.5% vs. 9.1%, P<.001; OR 4.8, 95% CI 2.3–9.8) and regret related to fertility loss (39.0% vs. 13.4%, P<.001; OR 4.1, 95% CI 2.2–7.8) compared to those aged 31–49 years. Among individuals aged 30 years or younger, 83.1% agreed that the hysterectomy was the right choice, compared to 97% of those aged 31–49 years (P<.001). Higher rates of regret were also observed in those reporting pelvic pain (P=.003, P=.011), endometriosis (P=.037, P=.046), and postoperative complications (P=.043, P<.001). During the time since surgery did not affect surgical regret (P=.138), individuals further from surgery reported lower rates of regret related to fertility loss (P=.003). Younger age remained associated with surgical regret (adjusted OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.3–6.5) and fertility-loss regret (adjusted OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.3–6.0) in multivariable logistic regression.
They concluded that younger individuals were more likely to experience regret after laparoscopic hysterectomy compared to older individuals.
