The Burden of Urinary Tract Infections on Quality of Life and Healthcare in Patients with Interstitial Cystitis

• Published in: Healthcare (Basel) Vol. 11; no. 20; p. 2761
• Main Authors: Baars, Cléo, van Ginkel, Charlotte, Heesakkers, John, Scholtes, Mathilde, Martens, Frank, Janssen, Dick
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01-10-2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Antibiotics; Bladder; bladder pain syndrome; burden of illness; Care and treatment; Complications and side effects; Cystitis; Diagnosis; Disease susceptibility; Drug resistance in microorganisms; Ethics; Health aspects; Health care reform; Health surveys; healthcare surveys; interstitial cystitis; Marketing research; Medical care; Patient outcomes; Patient satisfaction; Patients; Quality of life; Questionnaires; Review boards; Risk factors; Urinary tract diseases; Urinary tract infections; Urine; Urogenital system; Utilization; Netherlands
• ISSN: 2227-9032; 2227-9032
• DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11202761

Background: Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) patients are more susceptible to urinary tract infections (UTIs), likely worsening pre-existing symptoms. However, this receives limited attention in guidelines. This study aimed to explore the burden of UTIs on IC/BPS patients’ quality of life and their healthcare. Methods: Two quantitative retrospective database studies were conducted in cystoscopically proven IC/BPS patients: one compiled existing patient survey data (n = 217) from July 2021 to examine physical and emotional UTI burden, and the other used a patient file database (n = 100) from January 2020 to May 2022, focusing on UTI prevalence, healthcare use, urine cultures and antibiotic resistance. Results: A delay in diagnosis was seen in 70% of patients, due to doctors confusing IC/BPS symptoms with UTIs. The UTI prevalence was over 50%; these patients also report anxiety for new UTIs (70%) and worsening of IC/BPS symptoms (60%). Additionally, for UTI+ patients, healthcare consumption was significantly increased in both studies. Antibiotic resistance (80% of cultures) and prophylactic antibiotic use were common. Conclusions: These findings highlight the burden of UTIs on quality of life in IC/BPS patients and the healthcare system. These results emphasize the need for improved UTI guidelines concerning diagnosis, management and prevention for IC/BPS patients to improve quality of life and care.