<p>The Real Daily Need for Incontinence Aids and Appliances in Patients with Neurogenic Bladder Dysfunction in a Community Setting in Germany</p>

Abstract

Purpose: For successful long-term rehabilitation of patients with neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD), it is necessary to define the objective requirement for urological aids based on a scientifically validated basis. Methods: This was a cross-sectional multicenter study, based on a questionnaire. Data concerning bladder management and daily consumption of urological appliances for patients with NLUTD in a community setting were collected through a standardized survey. Results: Seven hundred and sixty-seven records were analyzed: 543 males, 221 females (N/A = 3). Patients using intermittent catheterization (n= 608) required 5.06 (mean) single-use catheters per day. Out of them, 94 (15.5%) required additional pads (mean: 2.29 per day), 34 patients (5.6%) additionally used pants (mean: 2.55 per day) and 46 patients (7.6%) utilized condom catheters (mean: 3.81 per day) between catheterizations. Among all, 126 patients (16.4%) used pads (mean: 5.03 per day), and 51 patients (6.6%) used pants (mean: 3.03 per day). Women needed both pads (p < 0.0001) and diapers (p = 0.0084) significantly more frequently than men. Eighty-two of the male patients (15.1%) applied condom catheters (mean: 2.8 per day). The target value of the objective daily requirement of incontinence aids for adult patients with NLUTD (based on the upper twofold standard deviation from the mean value) was defined as follows: up to nine single-use catheters, seven condom catheters, nine pads and/or seven pants. A "mixed supply" of different incontinence aids is part of the daily supply for many patients. Conclusion: For the first time, these results allow a reasonable regulation of urological aids and appliances based on scientific data for patients with neurogenic bladder.

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“…NLUTD involves a significant number of people living with spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, parkinsonism, and spina bifida (Bo ¨thig et al 2020). Since patients can lose bladder sensation and the ability to void voluntarily (Tudor et al 2016), they typically need to self-catheterize, which is time-consuming and uncomfortable (Averbeck et al 2018;Bo ¨thig et al 2020).…”

Harnblasentumoren als Langzeitfolge einer Querschnittlähmung – Bedeutung für die Praxis

“…Vor diesem Hintergrund kommt dem "Prinzip der lebenslangen Nachsorge" [45] von Patienten mit Querschnittlähmung und anderen chronischen Erkrankungen mit neurogenen Blasenfunktionsstörungen durch spezialisierte neuro-urologische Zentren, in deren Rahmen die Risiko-Konstellation der neurogenen Harnblasenfunktionsstörung regelmäßig re-evaluiert und auch die adäquate urologische Hilfsmittelversorgung regelmäßig überprüft werden kann [54], eine elementare Bedeutung zu.…”

Why Do Community-Dwelling Persons with Spinal Cord Injury Visit General Practitioners: A Cross-Sectional Study of Reasons for Encounter in Swiss General Practice

“…Mann-Whitney-U test was used to measure the significant association between the reason for the encounter and the perceived competence of GPs, and no relation was found to be statistically significant at P < 0.05. secondary health problems, such as spasticity, chronic pain, bowel and bladder problems, urinary tract infections, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes, which are commonly managed with pharmacotherapy. 21,22 In view of the first contact of care, persons whose first contact was a specialist were likely to visit a GP for medication supply more often than those in the GP group. Apparently, this group tends to select providers and services according to their health situations, however both SCI specialists and GPs are needed together to fulfill their needs.…”