Neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD) is considered to have significant clinical, social, and economic implications on individuals and healthcare systems, although the exact costs of care are unknown.
The primary goal of this research was to shed light on the worldwide expenses associated with the current standard of care for NLUTD. MEDLINE, the National Health Service Economic Evaluation Database, and the Cochrane Specialized Urology and Incontinence Registers were used to conduct a comprehensive literature search. NLUTD health care cost studies were located. The entire evaluation process was carried out by 2 separate reviewers. Various service categories’ projected costs in 2022 U.S. dollars were detailed. About 13 studies were included in the meta-analysis (12 from a high-income economy and 1 from an upper-middle-income economy). The studies’ definitions of what constituted “routine maintenance care” differed greatly. When considering problems, 1 study estimated a lifetime cost of $112,774, with annual supporting expenditures ranging from $2,039.69 to $12,219.07. Care cost information from the patient’s perspective was scarce.
On the other hand, it was expected that catheters and absorbent aids would be among the most expensive parts of regular treatment. The expenditures associated with more extensive procedures, such as reconstruction, were quite high, ranging from $18,057 to $55,873. Over the course of a patient’s lifetime, NLUTD causes a major burden for healthcare systems due to a wide range of medical expenses, from incontinence supplies to hospitalizations for the management of problems. Functional rehabilitation and restoration may prove to be a more cost-effective and efficient method of treating NLUTD than the current standard of care, which mostly focuses on complication management.
Source: auajournals.org/doi/10.1097/JU.0000000000002862
