Predictive factors of adherence to urinary self-catheterization in older adults

Aims The primary aim is to explore the adherence predicting factors in clean intermittent self-catheterization (CISC) in patients aged over 65 years. The secondary aim is to assess whether in this population, the non-adherence risk is greater, compared with patients under 65. Methods All patients older than 65 that successfully learned CISC between January 2011 and January 2016 were included. A control population younger than 65 matched with sex, body mass index, and pathology was selected. Results One hundered and thirteen (66.9%) out of the 169 patients older than 65 included were adherent at 1 month, and 80 (47.3%) at 6-12 months. Obesity (P = 0.027), a low PP test (Pencil and Paper test) score (P = 0.037), significant urinary stress incontinence (SUI) (P = 0.048), and prescription of CISC less than three per day (P = 0.03) were the risk factors predicting stopping CISC at 1 month, but none was associated with non-adherence at 6-12 months. Compared with the younger group, age was a risk factor for poor adherence at 1 month. Conclusion Obesity, low PP test score, and important SUI are factors of poor adherence to CISC at 1 month in older adults. Necessity of more than three CISC per day is in favor of treatment continuation, possibly due to absence of spontaneous voiding in these patients. Long-term adherence to CISC in older adults in this study remains close to adherence to other treatments prescribed in urinary disorders, and thus shows that CISC could be an easily purposed therapeutic option in this population, either on a long-term or transitory basis.