title: Bladder-emptying methods, neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction and impact on quality of life in people with long-term spinal cord injury.
abstract: To describe bladder-emptying methods used by people with long-term spinal cord injury (SCI) and to determine usage differences in relation to time since injury, sex, lesion level and completeness of lesion. Furthermore, to evaluate the relationship between bladder-emptying methods and the impact of neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD) on quality of life (QoL).
  
  
  
  Cross-sectional multicenter study.
  
  
  
  Dutch community.
  
  
  
  Persons dependent on wheelchairs (N = 282) with traumatic or non-traumatic SCI for ≥10 years and age at injury of 18-35 years.
  
  
  
  Not applicable.
  
  
  
  The International Lower Urinary Tract Function Basic SCI Data Set and the Short-Form Qualiveen (SF-Qualiveen).
  
  
  
  Median time since injury was 22.0 years (IQR: 16.8-30.3). Clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) was most commonly used (42.6%). Longer time since injury was associated with fewer continent urinary diversions and more transurethral catheter use. Transurethral catheter use and continent urinary diversions were more prevalent among women. Participants with tetraplegia were more likely to use reflex voiding or a suprapubic catheter, and participants with paraplegia were more likely to use CIC. Transurethral catheter users reported the highest impact of NLUTD on quality of life (SF-Qualiveen score: 1.9; SD = 0.8). Participants with a continent urinary diversion reported the lowest impact (SF-Qualiveen score: 0.9; SD = 0.6). Higher age and indwelling catheter use versus CIC were associated with a higher impact of NLUTD on QoL.
  
  
  
  CIC is the most common bladder-emptying method in Dutch people with long-term SCI. Clinicians should be aware of the impact of NLUTD on QoL, especially for those using an indwelling catheter.
authors.affiliation: a Brain Center Rudolf Magnus and Center of Excellence in Rehabilitation Medicine, De Hoogstraat Rehabilitation and University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht , the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jacinthe J E
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Adriaansen
authors.affiliation: b Center of Excellence in Rehabilitation Medicine , Utrecht , the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Floris W A
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: van Asbeck
authors.affiliation: c Department of Rehabilitation Medicine , Center for Rehabilitation, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen , Groningen , the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marga
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tepper
authors.affiliation: d Rehabilitation Center Heliomare , Wijk aan Zee , the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Willemijn X
authors.initials: WX
authors.lastname: Faber
authors.affiliation: e Department of Urology , University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht , the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Johanna M A
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Visser-Meily
authors.affiliation: e Department of Urology , University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht , the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Laetitia M O
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: de Kort
authors.affiliation: a Brain Center Rudolf Magnus and Center of Excellence in Rehabilitation Medicine, De Hoogstraat Rehabilitation and University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht , the Netherlands.|c Department of Rehabilitation Medicine , Center for Rehabilitation, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen , Groningen , the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marcel W M
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Post
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057928:Intermittent Urethral Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001750:Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: Long-term care; Neurogenic bladder; Quality of life; Spinal cord injuries