Patterns of neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction management and associated factors among Chinese community‑dwelling individuals with spinal cord injury

This study aimed to identify different management approaches for neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD) among Chinese individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) living in communities. The study found four main patterns of NLUTD management: using urinal collecting apparatus, bladder compression, intermittent catheterization (IC), and indwelling urethral catheterization. The factors like employment status, residential region, nursing needs, and hand function were found to be associated with these different management patterns.

• 1
  Four distinct patterns of NLUTD management were identified: “urinal collecting apparatus dominated pattern” (40.3%), “bladder compression dominated pattern” (30.7%), “intermittent catheterization dominated pattern” (19.3%) and “urethral indwelling catheterization dominated pattern” (9.6%).
• 2
  Employment status, residential region, nursing need, payment method for catheterization products, hand function, time since spinal cord injury, urinary incontinence and concerns about social interaction affected by urination problems were significantly associated with latent classes.
• 3
  Only 19.3% of people used the intermittent catheterization as their main neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction management method.