Mikolaj Przydacz1, Pierre Denys2, Jacques Corcos3. 1. Department of Urology, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, 3755 Côte-Sainte-Catherine Road, Pavilion E, H3T 1E2, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Electronic address: mikolaj.przydacz@yahoo.com. 2. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Raymond-Poincaré Hospital, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 92380 Garches, France. Electronic address: pierre.denys@aphp.fr. 3. Department of Urology, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, 3755 Côte-Sainte-Catherine Road, Pavilion E, H3T 1E2, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Electronic address: jcorcos@uro.jgh.mcgill.ca.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To summarize information on Neurogenic Bladder (NB) epidemiology, management and access to patient treatment in developing countries and emerging regions of the world in order to propose future interventions and help governmental as well as non-governmental organizations design their action plans. METHODS: Different search methods were used to gather the maximum available data. They included strategic searches; reference checks; grey literature searches (reports, working papers, government documents, civil society information); contacting professional societies, registries, and authors; requesting unpublished data from organizations; and browsing related websites and journals. RESULTS: The incidence and prevalence rates of NB in developing countries are difficult to establish because epidemiological reports are few and far between. The frequency of bladder dysfunction in neurologically impaired populations can be approximately estimated in some of these countries. Similar information paucity affects diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to NB patients living in less-developed regions of the world. The assessment and management of NB seems to vary markedly between countries, and care of patients from emerging regions of the world is often inadequate. CONCLUSION: Strong concerted efforts are needed on the part of international scientific societies, non-governmental organizations and local governments to work together to change the prognosis for these patients and to improve their quality of life.
OBJECTIVE: To summarize information on Neurogenic Bladder (NB) epidemiology, management and access to patient treatment in developing countries and emerging regions of the world in order to propose future interventions and help governmental as well as non-governmental organizations design their action plans. METHODS: Different search methods were used to gather the maximum available data. They included strategic searches; reference checks; grey literature searches (reports, working papers, government documents, civil society information); contacting professional societies, registries, and authors; requesting unpublished data from organizations; and browsing related websites and journals. RESULTS: The incidence and prevalence rates of NB in developing countries are difficult to establish because epidemiological reports are few and far between. The frequency of bladder dysfunction in neurologically impaired populations can be approximately estimated in some of these countries. Similar information paucity affects diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to NB patients living in less-developed regions of the world. The assessment and management of NB seems to vary markedly between countries, and care of patients from emerging regions of the world is often inadequate. CONCLUSION: Strong concerted efforts are needed on the part of international scientific societies, non-governmental organizations and local governments to work together to change the prognosis for these patients and to improve their quality of life.