Does optimizing bladder management equal optimizing quality of life? Correlation between health-related quality of life and urodynamic parameters in patients with spinal cord lesions.

OBJECTIVES

To analyze the influence of bladder management on patient well-being by correlating the objective urodynamic results of bladder treatment with the perceived quality of life in patients with spinal cord lesions.

METHODS

In a prospective study, 41 consecutive patients with neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction due to a spinal cord lesion who were performing intermittent self-catheterization underwent urodynamic examination and answered the German version of the Qualiveen (Coloplast A/S, Humlebaek, Denmark) questionnaire. The urodynamic results were classified as either treatment success or failure. The results of the Qualiveen questionnaire were correlated with these results.

RESULTS

The Qualiveen scales concerning fears and feelings were significantly worse in patients with suboptimal bladder function compared with those patients with treatment success.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of our study have demonstrated that a treatment regimen leading to favorable urodynamic data and continence correlates with better quality of life.