Medical/Surgical/Diseases/Complications
Poster Session 2
Claire J. Mazzia, BSc, MSc
Medical Student
Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
Toronto, ON, Canada
Anne Berndl, MD, MSc
Associate Professor, University of Toronto
Sunnybrook Research Institute
Toronto, ON, Canada
Sarah Daisy Kosa, BSc, MSc, PhD
Assistant Professor
McMaster University
Hamilton, ON, Canada
Anne Harris, BSc, MSc, PhD
Associate Professor
Toronto Metropolitan University
Toronto, ON, Canada
This study aims to assess if people who had a pregnancy over 20 weeks’ gestation after spinal cord injury (SCI) have worse bladder function than those with SCI who have never been pregnant using a validated survey.
Study Design: An international online survey containing the Neurogenic Bladder Symptom Score (NBSS), (a validated bladder survey) and detailed demographic and pregnancy information was distributed. Participants were at least 18 years old and assigned female at birth. Those who had only ever had a pregnancy >20 weeks following SCI were compared to those who had never had a pregnancy >20 weeks. Mean and standard deviations (SD) were used to describe overall and bladder component scores; multivariate analyses assessed differences in NBSS between groups, controlling for relevant confounders including SCI level and severity, mobility device, bladder management methods, BMI, and age.
Results:
The recruitment rate was 85.4% (1056/1237) and the completion rate was 73.8% (780/1056). 288 people had never had a pregnancy >20 weeks, and 152 had only ever had a pregnancy >20 weeks after SCI. There was no difference in overall NBSS score between the groups (p=0.82), which held in multivariate analysis (p=0.69). When assessing specific components of the score, a significant difference between groups in storage and voiding was observed (P=0.003), however this is unlikely a clinical difference (non-pregnancy score 7.32 SD 4.45 vs pregnancy 8.27 SD 4.34).
Conclusion:
This multivariate analysis demonstrates that people with SCI who had pregnancies have similar bladder function as those with SCI who have not had a pregnancy while considering clinically important confounders. The most important aspect of quality of life during SCI recovery is bladder function, and therefore it needs to be considered when contemplating pregnancy. This study describes key clinical information that will assist in evidence-based, preconception counselling for people with SCI and the physicians who care for them.