title: Stroke patients who regain urinary continence in the first week after acute first-ever stroke have better prognosis than patients with persistent lower urinary tract dysfunction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Urinary incontinence (UI) is a predictor of greater mortality and poor functional recovery; however published studies failed to evaluate lower urinary tract (LUT) function immediately after stroke. The aim of our study was to evaluate the course of LUT function in the first week after stroke, and its impact on prognosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included 100 consecutively admitted patients suffering first-ever stroke and evaluated them within 72 hours after stroke, after 7 days, 6 months, and 12 months. For LUT function assessment we used ultrasound measurement. The patients were divided into three groups: (i) patients who remained continent after stroke, (ii) patients who had LUT dysfunction in the acute phase but regained continence in the first week, and (iii) patients who did not regain normal LUT control in the first week. We assessed the influence of variables on death using the multiple logistic regression model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immediately after stroke 58 patients had LUT dysfunction. The odds of dying in group with LUT dysfunction were significantly larger than odds in group without LUT dysfunction. Odds for death for patients who regained LUT function in 1 week after stroke were comparable to patients without LUT dysfunction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We confirmed that post-stroke UI is a predictor of greater mortality at 1 week, 6 months and 12 months after stroke. However, patients who regain normal bladder control in the first week have a comparable prognosis as the patients who do not have micturition disturbances following stroke.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Neurophysiology, Division of Neurology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia. melita.rotar@kclj.si
authors.forename: Melita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rotar
authors.forename: Rok
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Blagus
authors.forename: Miran
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jeromel
authors.forename: Miha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Skrbec
authors.forename: Bojan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tršinar
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Vodušek
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011379:Prognosis; D020127:Recovery of Function; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D017524:Slovenia; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D014551:Urinary Tract / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014554:Urination