Burden of illness the first year after diagnosed bladder dysfunction among people with spinal cord injury or multiple sclerosis - a Danish register study

Background People with spinal cord injury (SCI) or multiple sclerosis (MS) are often living with some degree of bladder and/or bowel dysfunction due to acquired neurogenic damage. The objective was to estimate the burden of illness of SCI and MS the first year after diagnosed bladder dysfunction. Methods Data were extracted from registers covering all Danish citizens. People with SCI or MS were indexed at diagnosis of bladder dysfunction. Inclusion period was 2002-2015 and cases and matched controls were followed for one year. Results A total of 2,132 subjects with SCI and 1,887 subjects with MS were identified. Healthcare utilization and societal costs per patient-year were significantly higher for cases compared to controls driven primarily by inpatient care. Cases with urinary tract infection had significantly higher inpatient costs per patient-year compared to controls (SCI: 544 EUR vs 23, p < 0.05; MS: 497 EUR vs 6, p< 0.05) and medication for constipation was significantly more costly per patient-year (SCI: 178 EUR vs 3, p < 0.05; MS: 78 vs 1, p < 0.05). Conclusions The study demonstrates heavy societal and personal costs in the first year after bladder dysfunction in people with SCI or MS. This emphasizes the need for medical and social interventions to reduce the burden of illness.