Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with the Bladder Exstrophy-Epispadias Complex and Relationship to Incontinence and Sexual Factors: A Review of the Recent Literature

Abstract

The bladder exstrophy-epispadia complex (BEEC) includes malformations with midline closing defects of the lower abdomen and external genitalia. Long-term consequences with urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction, in spite of multiple surgical interventions, are common and expected to affect the patient's health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The extent and the predictive factors are, however, not known. New patient-reported outcome research is emerging, but valid and reliable condition-specific HRQOL are still missing. The aim of this review is to summarize and discuss the latest published reports (2015–2019) on HRQOL in patients with the BEEC and its relationship to incontinence and sexual factors.

Keywords

bladder exstrophy - epispadias - health-related quality of life - incontinence - sexual factors

• References

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