Quality of life and prevalence of depressive symptoms among patients on prolonged indwelling urinary catheters: A study from South west, Nigeria

Urinary catheters are used to relieve urinary retention. Its prolonged use has been associated with poor quality of life (QoL) and psychosocial distress among patients. We sought to evaluate the QoL and prevalence of depressive symptoms among patients on prolonged indwelling urinary catheters. A cross- sectional study of patients with indwelling urinary catheters at an outpatient urology clinic of a tertiary hospital in South west, Nigeria. One hundred and fifty-six patients completed a structured questionnaire. QoL was assessed with adapted quality of life assessment index question of International prostate symptoms score. Patients were screened for depressive symptoms using Patient Health Questionnaire 9(PHQ-9). Bi-variate analysis of QoL with route of urinary catheterization and type of bladder drainage; and correlation of duration of catheterization, QoL and PHQ-9 scores were done using chi- square and Spearman Rank’s correlation respectively with p value at 0.05. All patients were males with urinary retention as the major indication for urinary catheterization. Average duration of catheterization was 21 months. Poor QoL reported in majority of the patients, worse in younger age group and patients on urethral catheters. The prevalence rate of depressive symptoms was 46.1%. A weak negative correlation exists between duration of catheterization and QoL scores; and between duration of catheterization and depressive symptoms; however, strong correlation existed between QoL scores and depressive symptoms. Prolonged indwelling urinary catheter was related with poor QoL worsened in younger age group and those on urethral catheters with a high prevalence rate of depressive symptoms which correlated with the QoL. Key words:  Urinary catheterization, quality of life, depressive symptoms, Nigeria.