A Krassioukov1, J J Cragg2, C West3, C Voss4, D Krassioukov-Enns5. 1. 1] International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries, Vancouver, BC, Canada [2] Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Medicine, Vancouver, BC, Canada [3] GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre, Vancouver Coastal Health, Vancouver, BC, Canada. 2. 1] International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries, Vancouver, BC, Canada [2] School of Population and Public Health, Vancouver, BC, Canada. 3. International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries, Vancouver, BC, Canada. 4. Centre for Hip Health and Mobility, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. 5. Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN: Despite significant progress in bladder management, urinary tract infections (UTIs) are still common among individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI), and could negatively impact their health and quality of life. However, there are no data available on bladder management and frequency of UTIs among elite athletes with SCI. METHODS: Athletes were assessed during the London 2012 Paralympic Games and 2013 Paracycling World Championships. Athletes completed the standard form of the International Standards to Document remaining Autonomic Functions after SCI, along with the standardized Autonomic Function Questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 61 (age=35.5±7.7 years (mean±s.d.); time since injury=16.0±7.6 years) elite athletes from 15 countries with traumatic SCI and who used clean intermittent catheterization were included in this study. The majority (75%) were from developed nations. Athletes catheterized on average 6±2 times per day. We found that individuals who reused catheters experienced more frequent UTIs (P<0.001). We also demonstrated that 83% of individuals from developed nations never reused a single-use catheter, whereas only 27% of individuals from developing nations used a new catheter each time (P<0.001). We also noted a twofold increase in the frequency of UTIs in individuals from developing nations (P=0.027). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that catheter reuse is intimately linked to UTI frequency and provides novel insight on bladder function and management in elite athletes with SCI. Reasons for catheter reuse may be due to a lack of health education and/or a lack of bladder-management resources. (Support: Craig Neilsen Foundation, ICORD, IPC).
STUDY DESIGN: Despite significant progress in bladder management, urinary tract infections (UTIs) are still common among individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI), and could negatively impact their health and quality of life. However, there are no data available on bladder management and frequency of UTIs among elite athletes with SCI. METHODS: Athletes were assessed during the London 2012 Paralympic Games and 2013 Paracycling World Championships. Athletes completed the standard form of the International Standards to Document remaining Autonomic Functions after SCI, along with the standardized Autonomic Function Questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 61 (age=35.5±7.7 years (mean±s.d.); time since injury=16.0±7.6 years) elite athletes from 15 countries with traumatic SCI and who used clean intermittent catheterization were included in this study. The majority (75%) were from developed nations. Athletes catheterized on average 6±2 times per day. We found that individuals who reused catheters experienced more frequent UTIs (P<0.001). We also demonstrated that 83% of individuals from developed nations never reused a single-use catheter, whereas only 27% of individuals from developing nations used a new catheter each time (P<0.001). We also noted a twofold increase in the frequency of UTIs in individuals from developing nations (P=0.027). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that catheter reuse is intimately linked to UTI frequency and provides novel insight on bladder function and management in elite athletes with SCI. Reasons for catheter reuse may be due to a lack of health education and/or a lack of bladder-management resources. (Support: Craig Neilsen Foundation, ICORD, IPC).
Authors: Steven C Kirshblum; William Waring; Fin Biering-Sorensen; Stephen P Burns; Mark Johansen; Mary Schmidt-Read; William Donovan; Daniel Graves; Amit Jha; Linda Jones; M J Mulcahey; Andrei Krassioukov Journal: J Spinal Cord Med Date: 2011-11 Impact factor: 1.985
Authors: Malcolm G Lucas; Ruud J L Bosch; Fiona C Burkhard; Francisco Cruz; Thomas B Madden; Arjun K Nambiar; Andreas Neisius; Dirk J M K de Ridder; Andrea Tubaro; William H Turner; Robert S Pickard Journal: Eur Urol Date: 2012-08-31 Impact factor: 20.096
Authors: H S Chhabra; L A Harvey; S Muldoon; S Chaudhary; M Arora; D J Brown; F Biering-Sorensen; J J Wyndaele; S Charlifue; J Horsewell; S Ducharme; D Green; D Simpson; J Glinsky; E Weerts; N Upadhyay; S Aito; P Wing; S Katoh; A Kovindha; A Krassioukov; C Weeks; V Srikumar; R Reeves; C Siriwardane; N Hasnan; Y B Kalke; I Lanig Journal: Spinal Cord Date: 2013-03 Impact factor: 2.772
Authors: Mary H Wilde; James M McMahon; Eileen Fairbanks; Judith Brasch; Robert Parshall; Feng Zhang; Sarah Miner; Deborah Thayer; Dan Schneiderman; Brian Harrington Journal: J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs Date: 2016 Sep-Oct Impact factor: 1.741