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| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Real-world data on the prevalence and therapy of symptomatic bladder dysfunction in people with multiple sclerosis |
| Creators: |
Kirstein, Mathia  ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-8750-7048, Frahm, Niklas ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4655-774X, Ellenberger, David, Stahmann, Alexander, Fneish, Firas, Peters, Melanie, Paul, Friedemann ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6378-0070, Warnke, Clemens, Hellwig, Kerstin, Flachenecker, Peter, Berger, Klaus, Mai, Michaela, Hecker, Michael and Zettl, Uwe K.
|
| Abstract: | BACKGROUND: Bladder dysfunctions (BL-D) are common in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS), significantly affecting daily life, infection risk, and survival. Nonetheless, BL-D are frequently stigmatized and inadequately addressed in clinical practice. To date, no comprehensive analysis of BL-D has been conducted in Germany. OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of BL-D and its subtypes in a German cohort and identify associated factors and treatment patterns. METHODS: Data were analyzed from individuals enrolled in the German MS Register, aged ⩾18 with definite MS. Inclusion required ⩾3 visits and complete data on MS onset, diagnosis date, and BL-D status. BL-D were subclassified into urinary urgency, voiding dysfunction, bladder incontinence, and other BL-D. PwMS with different subtypes were compared regarding clinical, sociodemographic, and therapeutic characteristics and associated factors were identified using logistic regression. RESULTS: The study cohort included 10,572 pwMS (71.7% female) with a mean age of 48.2 years, disease duration of 16.0 years, and median Expanded Disability Status Scale score of 2.0. BL-D was present in 38.0% of pwMS, with urinary urgency being the leading subtype (41.0%). Associations included older age, longer disease duration, progressive disease course, polysymptomatic onset, and receiving disease-modifying therapy. Interestingly, 37.1% of pwMS with BL-D received no bladder treatment, while 36.9% received pharmaceutical and 36.4% non-pharmaceutical bladder treatment. CONCLUSION: The results highlight the clinical relevance and burden of BL-D in MS and provide first insights into subtype-specific differences in the German MS population. Providing appropriate BL-D care requires investigation into causal factors and a deeper understanding of the underlying reasons of the treatment gap. DESIGN: Retrospective, cross-sectional study. |
| Keywords: | Bladder Dysfunction, Multiple Sclerosis, Neurogenic Bladder, Real-World Evidence |
| Source: | Therapeutic Advances in Neurological Disorders |
| ISSN: | 1756-2856 |
| Publisher: | Sage Publications |
| Volume: | 19 |
| Page Range: | 17562864261456559 |
| Date: | 25 July 2026 |
| Official Publication: | https://doi.org/10.1177/17562864261456559 |
| PubMed: | View item in PubMed |
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