Abstract

In view of the limited information on neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD) after spinal cord injury (SCI) in the literature, this study aimed to investigate the complication rate of NLUTD after SCI and to describe the clinical management of NLUTD in Taiwan. A cross-sectional study was conducted using the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan from which patients newly diagnosed with SCI during 2006-2008 were extracted. Records of diagnosis, prescriptions, and procedures for patients were retrieved to identify NLUTD cases. The utilization of medical treatments including pharmacotherapy and procedures such as intermittent and indwelling catheters was analyzed. A total of 941 eligible SCI patients were identified, with a mean age of 48.4 (±18.5), of which 575 (61.1 %) were male, and 500 (53.1 %) were with cervical SCI. By the end of 1-year follow-up, 165 (17.5 %) had developed NLUTD. The characteristics were mostly similar between the NLUTD and non-NLUTD groups except in age and length of stay (LOS) in hospitals, where patients with NLUTD were 7.5 years old and had 2.15-month-longer LOS. Over 80 % of NLUTD patients received urinary catheterization, with approximately half also receiving pharmacotherapy. This is the first study using nationwide datasets to evaluate the overall complication rate of NLUTD associated with SCI, which is shown to be lower than previously reported. While various treatment options are available, urinary catheterization is the most common treatment for NLUTD.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.