Miriam Hwang1, Kathy Zebracki2, Lawrence C Vogel3. 1. Shriners Hospitals for Children, Chicago, IL. Electronic address: mhwang@shrinenet.org. 2. Shriners Hospitals for Children, Chicago, IL; Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL. 3. Shriners Hospitals for Children, Chicago, IL; Rush Medical College, Chicago, IL.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To describe long-term outcomes of neurogenic bowel dysfunction (NBD), determine changes over time in the type of bowel program, and determine changes in psychosocial outcomes associated with NBD-related factors in adults with pediatric-onset spinal cord injury (SCI). DESIGN: Longitudinal cohort survey. Follow-up occurred annually for a total of 466 interviews, with most participants (75%) contributing to at least 3 consecutive interviews. SETTING: Community. PARTICIPANTS: Adults (N=131) who had sustained an SCI before the age of 19 years (men, 64.1%; tetraplegia, 58.8%; mean age ± SD, 33.4±6.1y; mean time since injury ± SD, 19.5±7.0y). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Type and evacuation time of bowel management programs; standardized measures assessing life satisfaction, health perception, depressive symptoms, and participation. Generalized estimating equations were formulated to determine odds of change in outcomes over time. RESULTS: At first interview, rectal suppository/enema use was most common (51%). Over time, the likelihood of using manual evacuation (odds ratio [OR]=1.077; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.023-1.134; P=.005), oral laxatives (OR=1.052; 95% CI, 1.001-1.107; P=.047), and colostomy (OR=1.071; 95% CI, 1.001-1.147; P=.047) increased, whereas the odds of rectal suppository use decreased (OR=.933; 95% CI, .896-.973; P=.001). Bowel evacuation times were likely to decrease over time in participants using manual evacuation (OR=.499; 95% CI, .256-.974; P=.042) and digital rectal stimulation (OR=.490; 95% CI, .274-.881; P=.017), but increase for rectal suppository/enema use (OR=1.871; 95% CI, 1.264-2.771; P=.002). When the level of injury was controlled for, participants using manual evacuation and digital rectal stimulation were more likely to have increases in community participation scores (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: Changes in type of bowel program over time may be associated with the time required to complete bowel evacuation in this relatively young adult SCI population.
OBJECTIVES: To describe long-term outcomes of neurogenic bowel dysfunction (NBD), determine changes over time in the type of bowel program, and determine changes in psychosocial outcomes associated with NBD-related factors in adults with pediatric-onset spinal cord injury (SCI). DESIGN: Longitudinal cohort survey. Follow-up occurred annually for a total of 466 interviews, with most participants (75%) contributing to at least 3 consecutive interviews. SETTING: Community. PARTICIPANTS: Adults (N=131) who had sustained an SCI before the age of 19 years (men, 64.1%; tetraplegia, 58.8%; mean age ± SD, 33.4±6.1y; mean time since injury ± SD, 19.5±7.0y). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Type and evacuation time of bowel management programs; standardized measures assessing life satisfaction, health perception, depressive symptoms, and participation. Generalized estimating equations were formulated to determine odds of change in outcomes over time. RESULTS: At first interview, rectal suppository/enema use was most common (51%). Over time, the likelihood of using manual evacuation (odds ratio [OR]=1.077; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.023-1.134; P=.005), oral laxatives (OR=1.052; 95% CI, 1.001-1.107; P=.047), and colostomy (OR=1.071; 95% CI, 1.001-1.147; P=.047) increased, whereas the odds of rectal suppository use decreased (OR=.933; 95% CI, .896-.973; P=.001). Bowel evacuation times were likely to decrease over time in participants using manual evacuation (OR=.499; 95% CI, .256-.974; P=.042) and digital rectal stimulation (OR=.490; 95% CI, .274-.881; P=.017), but increase for rectal suppository/enema use (OR=1.871; 95% CI, 1.264-2.771; P=.002). When the level of injury was controlled for, participants using manual evacuation and digital rectal stimulation were more likely to have increases in community participation scores (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: Changes in type of bowel program over time may be associated with the time required to complete bowel evacuation in this relatively young adult SCI population.