Adult Bladder and Quality of Life Evaluation in Spina Bifida

Overview

Spina bifida (SB) is a birth defect that affects the spine, often causing paralysis in the legs and problems with bladder and bowel control. Managing these bladder issues is important, but different methods, like using a catheter or surgery, can impact a person's quality of life. This study looks at how different bladder management methods affect the quality of life for young people with SB. Researchers will ask people with SB to complete a survey about how they manage their bladder and how it impacts their daily lives. The main goal is to find out if certain bladder management methods are associated with a better quality of life. This information could help doctors make better treatment decisions and counsel young people living with SB.

Spina bifida is a congenital defect of the spine where some of the spinal cord and its covering (meninges) are exposed through a gap in the lower back or sacrum; this often results in paralysis of the lower limbs. The majority of spina bifida (SB) patients also have pelvic floor dysfunction (bladder, bowel, prolapse, sexual function) because of neurologic damage to this portion of the spinal nerves, and this increases the risk of their long-term morbidity. These problems place a substantial burden on patients' physical health and quality of life (QoL). Serious urological complications, such as urosepsis, skin breakdown, and renal failure, can occur in this patient population due to bladder dysfunction. Approximately 50% of young adults with SB have renal dysfunction, 50% have urinary incontinence, and they are nine times more likely to present with urinary tract infections. The "gold standard" bladder management strategy when a person with SB is unable to void spontaneously is to perform clean intermittent catheterization (CIC). Alternatives to CIC include spontaneous voiding (if possible), incontinence products, an indwelling catheter (IDC), or reconstructive surgery (to create a urinary diversion or to enable CIC). However, IDC and surgery have increased risks of specific complications, including the risk of bladder cancer, urethral damage, urinary infections, and surgical morbidity. People with SB usually discuss bladder management options with their urologist, however they may prioritize a variety of factors around bladder management that directly affect their QOL, and these may not be as apparent to urologists. This is further complicated when patients reach adolescence and young adulthood; at this age they transition from pediatric to adult care providers, all while transitioning in other areas of their life (such as increasing responsibility, cognitive growth, and a wish for more independence). These factors may all impact thoughts about bladder management. Few studies have addressed QoL in relation to different bladder/bowel management methods in this SB age group, and most have not considered things like health literacy and cognitive function.