QUALITY-OF-LIFE AND HEALTH IN PATIENTS WITH URINARY-DIVERSION - A COMPARISON OF INCONTINENT VERSUS CONTINENT URINARY-DIVERSION

Objective: To compare the quality of life and health in patients with incontinent and continent urinary diversions, in correlation with the initial diagnosis, diversion-related symptoms, psychological status an d employment status. Materials and Methods: 81 patients (64% male and 36% female) with a mean age of 55 years (18-65 years) were included in this retrospective study. A total of 27 had an incontinent urinary di version (group A) and 54 a continent diversion (group B). The initial diagnosis was malignant tumor in 75% (n = 61) and nontumor disease in 25% (n = 20). A structured interview and psychometric instrument asses sment of the quality of life as well as somatic and psychological symp toms were carried out and analyzed. Results: Patients with nontumor di sease, a continent reservoir and employment tended to have the highest level of quality of life. The higher the number and severity of psych ological symptoms, such as depression and anxiety, the lower the level of global satisfaction with life, health and urinary diversion, and v ice versa. No difference was seen between groups A and B concerning di version-related symptoms, global satisfaction with life and health and sociodemographic data. Conclusions: The decision for a continent vers us an incontinent urinary diversion must consider not only the medical factors of each individual patient, but also the initial diagnosis, p sychological condition and employment status.