Abstract Aims To evaluate the clinical and economic value of onabotulinumtoxinA (onabotA) vs oral pharmacotherapies for adults with OAB inadequately managed with anticholinergics from a United States (US) Medicare + societal perspective over 1 year. Materials and methods A Markov model-based 1-year cost per responder (CPR) analysis was conducted for patients achieving complete response (100% reduction in urinary incontinence episodes [i.e. complete dryness]). Comparators incl

ABSTRACT Objective To examine population-based trends in utilization of minimally invasive therapies (MITs) for overactive bladder (OAB) stratified by age and frailty among Medicare beneficiaries. Methods This population-based study used a 20% sample of fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries to investigate rates of utilization for MIT for OAB [onabotulinumtoxinA injections (BTX), percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS), and sacral neuromodulation (SNM)] from 2015 to 2020

Abstract Introduction: The assessment of neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD) should include objective and quality of life (QoL) measures, considering sex and gender differences. Thus, we investigated the sex-specific impact of NLUTD on QoL. Methods: We evaluated consecutive outpatients with chronic NLUTD, who had completed the Short Form (SF)-Qualiveen questionnaire from September 2024 to January 2026 at a specialized spinal cord injury center, in a cross-secti

Abstract Purpose: To assess correlations between changes in urinary or bowel incontinence and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in people with spina bifida. Materials and Methods: Children (aged 8-17.9 years) and adults (aged 18-55) with spina bifida self-reported urinary and bowel incontinence (clinic questionnaires) and HRQOL (validated QUALAS questionnaire) 3 to 24 months apart (2018-2024). Mixed effects linear regression was used to analyze changes in HRQOL correctin

Abstract Background Drug resistance is a crucial issue in patients with urinary tract infection (UTI). This study aimed to detect drug-resistant (DR) UTI cases using suitable machine learning classifiers for early prediction of DR UTI. Methods Three databases were used. The first database was from UTI patients at Alexandria University Hospital in Egypt. The second database was from a general clinic in Northern Mindanao, Philippines. The third was from Al-Rafa Laboratory, IBB

Abstract Purpose No information exists regarding the association between incontinence product use and men’s quality of life (QOL). Therefore, this study aimed to provide the first comprehensive assessment of how incontinence products relate to adult men’s well-being. Methods Data were obtained from the 2023 Japan Community Health Survey, a nationwide survey of 6210 adults (3122 men, 3088 women). Incontinence products included adult diapers and pads. The primary outcome was th

Abstract Importance Misrepresentation of symptoms, whether through exaggeration, omission, or fabrication, can represent an important barrier to effective patient-clinician communication and shared decision-making, including in the context of antibiotic treatment. Objective To examine the prevalence, reasons for, and characteristics associated with self-reported misrepresentation of symptoms to obtain antibiotics. Design, Setting, and Participants This survey study recruit

Abstract PURPOSE Continuity of care has been associated with lower health care use and costs. When general practitioners (GPs) serve as gatekeepers to hospital care, having an ongoing relationship with a GP may promote more efficient care and reduce urgent referrals, thereby lowering costs. We examined the association of 2 conceptually distinct measures of continuity in general practice with both urgent hospital admissions and hospital costs. METHODS We conducted a retrospect

Abstract Background: Spinal meningiomas (SM) are generally benign tumours with favourable surgical outcomes. However, their potential to impair sphincter function-particularly bladder control-remains insufficiently investigated. Bladder dysfunction, ranging from urge incontinence to complete urinary incontinence, may significantly impair quality of life and correlate with both neurological status and surgical outcomes. Objective: This study aimed to determine whether preopera

National Contraction in Nursing Home Capacity Harms Elderly Care Transitions A nation-wide drop in licensed nursing facility capacity is creating severe bottlenecks across the U.S. long-term care ecosystem. Recent studies show a 5% decrease in national nursing home capacity over five years, with over 900 facilities closing over the past decade. In New York alone, 24 nursing homes have shut down since 2020, removing over 3,000 available beds from the system. This shrinking sup

Abstract We evaluated the impact of chronological age on early urinary continence recovery following robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) using EPIC-26 and quantified discordance between patient-reported and surgeon-assessed continence. A total of 144 consecutive patients underwent RARP and were stratified into Group A (< 70 years, n = 74), Group B (70–<75 years, n = 36), and Group C (≥ 75 years, n = 34). Continence was assessed using EPIC-26 and independent surgeon ev

Abstract Purpose To determine whether omitting routine indwelling catheterization after ureteroscopic lithotripsy reduces postoperative lower urinary tract symptoms and enhances patient comfort, without compromising safety. Methods In this prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled trial, 180 patients undergoing ureteroscopic lithotripsy from August 2024 to June 2025 at four centers were allocated to either the No-Catheter group (n = 91) or the Catheter group (n = 89). T

Post-Pandemic Redeterminations Shift Financial Burden to Patients Following the end of pandemic-era coverage protections, millions of Americans face growing financial friction when seeking medical care. A study from Epic Research analyzing over 550 million U.S. healthcare encounters reveals that the proportion of self-pay emergency department visits jumped from 5.5% in early 2022 to 7.6% by mid-2026. Simultaneously, Medicaid-covered emergency encounters declined from 18.2% to

The Impact of Hospital Bed Boarding on Vulnerable Patient Groups Emergency department (ED) boarding—where admitted patients wait hours or days for an inpatient bed—remains a widespread problem across U.S. hospitals. A study published in JAMA analyzing over three million ED visits revealed that more than 53% of patients needing admission waited four hours or longer for an inpatient bed, with some enduring delays exceeding 24 hours. These systemic handoff bottlenecks disproport

As penile enhancement procedures grow in popularity, many men question whether cosmetic treatments like penile fillers affect the urinary tract or cause incontinence. Currently, there is no clinical evidence demonstrating that professionally administered hyaluronic acid fillers directly cause urinary incontinence. Procedures typically place fillers beneath the skin rather than inside the bladder, urinary sphincter, or pelvic-floor muscles. However, penile augmentation is not

A meta-analysis of 22 studies published in Science of The Total Environment reveals that flushing a toilet propels microbial bioaerosols directly into the air at adult breathing heights. Researchers from Flinders and Adelaide universities found that turbulence generated during flushing releases airborne pathogens originating from both contaminated toilet bowls and flush water. Key findings demonstrate that high microbial loads and larger flush volumes are the primary drivers

Aseptic insertion is essential, but preventing catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) requires rigorous care throughout the device's entire lifecycle. Microorganisms invade the urinary tract via two main pathways: extraluminal migration along the outer catheter surface and intraluminal migration through breaks in the closed drainage system. While extraluminal risks stem from perineal flora, intraluminal contamination frequently results from daily maintenance ov

The U.S. healthcare system presents a striking paradox: while it excels in specialized clinical care and advanced medical research, accessing that expertise remains a significant hurdle for many patients. Although the U.S. ranks highly in care quality and safety, Americans face steep barriers regarding timely access and affordability. Having health insurance is often treated as a proxy for healthcare availability, but coverage only resolves financial logistics—not practica

At the AAPACN 2026 Quality Virtual Conference, compliance experts highlighted fall rates as a vital signal of overall institutional performance, care planning, and workforce stability. As federal regulators increasingly track falls—using them as metrics for Special Focus Facility inclusion—insiders emphasize that fall data reflects broader operational health, including assessment accuracy, medication management, and interdisciplinary communication. A report analyzing over

Abstract The detection of fungi in urine is common, particularly in nosocomial settings. Nevertheless, diagnostic and treatment approaches are often associated with uncertainty. Accordingly, this review aimed to give a concise overview of fungal urinary tract infection (UTI) as a supplement to the more comprehensive update of the European Association of Urology 2026 Guidelines on Urological Infections. Only 2–11% of fungal isolates in urine are associated with symptoms, and a