Health-related quality of life and mental health in adolescents and adults operated for bladder exstrophy and epispadias - Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and psychiatric symptom aspects in patients with bladder exstrophy and epispadias.

METHODS: Sixty-two adolescents or adults operated for BEE were mailed questionnaires evaluating HRQoL (RAND-36 questionnaire) and psychiatric symptoms (SCL-90 questionnaire). Thirty-two patients with a median age of 28 years responded. The results were compared with national reference values.

RESULTS: Overall, RAND-36 scores and SCL-90 scores were comparable in the patients and the referral population. However, 7 patients (21%) had high SCL-90 scores, suggesting mental health problems. The patients with unsatisfactory genital appearance, urinary incontinence, or bladder augmentation tended to have poorer HRQoL and psychiatric symptom scores.

CONCLUSION: Most adults with BEE have satisfactory HRQoL and mental health. However, a possible mental health problem can be found in one-fifth of the patients. Abnormal genitalia and bladder function may have a negative effect on HRQoL and mental health. Bladder augmentation is not associated with better outcome than mild incontinence.

Written by:
Taskinen S, Suominen JS, Mattila AK.   Are you the author?
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Gender Identity Unit, Department of Adult Psychiatry, University Hospital of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.  

Reference: Urology. 2015 Apr 14. pii: S0090-4295(15)00195-8.
doi: 10.1016/j.urology.2015.02.020


PubMed Abstract
PMID: 25881863

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