Post-stroke lower urinary system dysfunction and its relation with functional and mental status: a multicenter cross-sectional study

Background: Review of the literature clearly reveals that little is known about the association between functional and mental status, and Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction (LUTD) in patients with stroke. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess functional and mental status in stroke patients and to identify possible associations with the prevalence, severity and bother of LUTD. Material and methods: This study was designed as a cross-sectional study and included 260 stroke patients enrolled from six different hospitals in Turkey. The patients were questioned using the Danish Prostatic Symptom Score (DAN-PSS) Questionnaire to evaluate LUTD, and evaluated using the Modified Barthel Index (MBI), Incontinence Quality of Life Questionnaire (I-QoL), and the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). Results: At least one LUTD finding was reported in 243 (93.5%) patients; the most commonly encountered complaint in these patients was nocturia (75.8%). The mean MBI, MMSE, and I-QoL scores were found to be significantly lower in LUTD (+) patients compared to LUTD (-) patients (p = 0.000, p = 0.005, and p < 0.01, respectively). Similarly all parameters (MBI, MMSE, and I-QoL scores) assessed were found to be significantly lower for patients with urinary incontinence than those without incontinence (p = 0.000, p = 0.000, and p < 0.01, respectively). Conclusion: LUTD is a common problem in patients with stroke. LUTD is associated with poorer cognitive and functional status and the quality of life in these patients. We, therefore, suggest that bladder dysfunction should not be overlooked during rehabilitation of stroke patients.