SOCIAL AND FUNCTIONAL VARIABLES ASSOCIATED WITH URINARY-TRACT INFECTIONS IN PERSONS WITH SPINAL-CORD INJURY

Objective: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) and their complications rem ain a major source of morbidity and mortality after spinal cord injury (SCI). There has been much investigation into the physiological chang es in persons with SCI and how these predispose to the development of UTIs, but other potentially influential variables are not so well unde rstood. The purpose of this study is to examine behavioral, social, an d functional factors and their relationship with UTIs. Our hypothesis is that lower UTI frequency will be associated with higher functional abilities, increased productivity, and higher life satisfaction scores . Design: Respondents to a mailed questionnaire reported information o n demographics, bladder management methods, functioning. productivity, and life satisfaction. Patients: A volunteer sample from a list of al l people with SCI previously treated at a university medical center re habilitation medicine SCI inpatient service and/or outpatient SCI clin ic from 1991 through 1994. Results: There were 81 (35%) responses to 2 29 received mailings. Mean reported UTIs were 1.37 (SD = 2.66) per yea r and 4.77 (SD = 6.70) over a 3-year period. UTIs per year and total U TIs over 3 years were negatively associated with functioning and produ ctivity (number of hours worked per week), but were not associated wit h life satisfaction scores. Conclusion: As a result of this study ther e is an improved understanding of social and functional variables and how these may correlate with UTI incidence in this population. Further research into these variables is warranted. (C) 1997 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physic al Medicine and Rehabilitation.