Urologic health condition of spinal cord-injured patients living in Turkey.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the urologic health condition of spinal cord-injured (SCI) patients living in Turkey, and to analyze the relationship between the prevalence of urologic health condition parameters and the patient's characteristics.


METHODS
Telephone call survey was conducted with a structured questionnaire among all members of Turkish Society of Spinal Cord Injured Patients.


RESULTS
Data were obtained from 300 patients. Mean age was 42 years with a male/female ratio of 2.3, while the most common cause of injury was transport (35.3%). Although 70% were aware of potential kidney and bladder problems after injury >60% of the patients were not under regular urologic follow-up. Secondary health problems experienced as being most important was urination problems (50%). Of the patients 72.7% (83% in females vs 68% in males) had urinary incontinence (UI) during last 3 months, and 64.3% used clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) (68% in males vs. 56% in females), while 73%, 57% and 26% of incontinent patients used diaper/pad, medication and condom catheter, respectively, and the use of CIC decreased with time. Surgical procedures on urinary tract were performed in 22.6% of the patients; stone surgeries were the most frequent ones.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated that the UI rate was high among SCI patients, and more common in females with fairly good proportion of patients using incontinence medication. Main bladder management method was CIC and more prevalent in males, although the use of CIC decreased with time. Urinary stone surgery was the leading surgical procedure.
Department of Urology, University of Istanbul Cerrahpasa School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
B
B
Cetinel
Department of Urology, University of Istanbul Cerrahpasa School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
B
B
Onal
Department of Urology, University of Istanbul Cerrahpasa School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
F A
FA
Turegun
Department of Public Health, University of Istanbul Cerrahpasa School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
S
S
Erdogan
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014545:Urinary Calculi / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D014546:Urinary Catheterization / Q000379:methods; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D014570:Urologic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D055815:Young Adult