Time-Related Changes in Patient Reported Bladder Symptoms and Satisfaction after Spinal Cord Injury

PURPOSE: Increased time after spinal cord injury (SCI) is associated with a migration to bladder managements with higher morbidity such as indwelling catheter (IDC). Still it is unclear how this affects bladder-related quality of life (QoL). We hypothesized that time from injury (TFI) would be associated with changes in bladder management, symptoms, and satisfaction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis of time-related changes in patient-reported bladder management, symptoms, and satisfaction, using the Neurogenic Bladder Research Group SCI Registry. Outcomes included: Neurogenic Bladder Symptom Score (NBSS) and bladder-related satisfaction (NBSS-satisfaction). Multivariable regression was performed to assess associations between TFI and outcomes, adjusting for participant characteristics, injury specifics, and psychosocial aspects of health-related QoL. Participants with TFI 20 years. RESULTS: Of 1420 participants, mean age at injury was 29.7(SD13.4) years and mean TFI was 15.2(SD11.6) years. Participants grouped by TFI included 298(21%) 1–5, 340(24%) 6–10, 198(14%) 11–15, 149(10%) 16–20, and 435(31%) >20 years. As TFI increased, clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) declined (55% 1–5 vs. 45% >20 years, p20 years, p20 years from injury (−3.21[CI-1.29,−5.14,p20 years −0.85[CI-1.07,−0.63