The good, the bad and the ugly of catheterization practices among elite athletes with spinal cord injury: a global perspective

• Published in: Spinal cord 2015-01, Vol.53 (1), p.78-82
• Main Authors: Krassioukov, A, Cragg, J J, West, C, Voss, C, Krassioukov-Enns, D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 692/700/228/491; Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Anatomy; Athletes; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Female; Human Physiology; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neurochemistry; Neuropsychology; Neurosciences; original-article; Quality of Life; Spinal Cord Injuries - complications; Time Factors; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic - etiology; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic - therapy; Urinary Catheterization - methods; Urinary Tract Infections - etiology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1362-4393; 1476-5624
• DOI: 10.1038/sc.2014.208

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