[Epidemiology of urological symptoms in neurological disorders. A prospective analysis in a center for neurological rehabilitation].

The frequency of urological symptoms and malfunctions was determined in a representative group of patients in a neurological rehabilitation center in Northern Bavaria. All 225 consecutive inpatients between October 2002 and April 2003 were questioned by an experienced neuro-urologist about relevant urological symptoms. The Barthel index, IPSS, and a simple quality of life score were ascertained in addition. We tried to analyze indication, frequency, and quality of any treatment for previous urological symptoms in the assigning institution. An assessment of the known therapy of urological symptoms in pretreating facilities was documented in 190 patients (84.4%). In 105 cases (55.3%) treatment was appraised as sufficient (including all patients without urological symptoms) and not sufficient in 85 cases (44.7%). At the time of admission into the rehabilitation center no urological symptoms were seen in 78 cases (35.1%); 144 patients (64.9%) presented with relevant urological symptoms. It could be pointed out that patients with urological symptoms without adequate treatment lost quality of life significantly, both at medical and at subjective assessment. Total morbidity of patients with urological symptoms was shown to be worse regarding Barthel index, IPSS, and quality of life assessed by IPSS. By providing continuous neuro-urologically qualified support, deficits due to inadequate pretreatment could be compensated in comparison to the group with appropriate pretreatment. A further optimization of the rehabilitation potential of neurologically ill patients seems possible by an implementation of urological base measures into the neurological treatment routine and improved urological training of neurological treatment teams.