Disorders that affect the brain or spinal cord are known as Central Nervous System (CNS) disorders. Examples include Parkinsons disease, stroke and spinal cord injuries (SCI). These disorders can cause disturbance to the normal passing of urine, which is medically known as neurogenic bladder (NGB). Patients with NGB tend to have substantial disability and can experience complications including recurrent infection, kidney failure and sexual dysfunction.
It is important that patients are managed effectively in order to avoid complications and improve their quality of life (QoL). Studies that describe the drugs and the healthcare resources patients utilise can act as an important preliminary step in creating more rational and cost-effective management strategies. Unfortunately, few studies of this nature have been conducted in NGB patients. Thus, the proposed study aims to gain a better understanding of the way NGB patients are currently managed in the U.K healthcare system, and obtain estimates on the frequency and costs of the healthcare resources they utilise.
There is considerable heterogeneity in urinary symptoms between Neurogenic Bladder (NGB) patients due to the differences in underlying neurological conditions, site of neurological injury and degree of disability. This compounds the availability of a single optimal medical therapy. It is currently not clear how patients are managed in real world United Kingdom (UK) clinical practice. In addition, the healthcare burden remains undescribed in an English population. Characterising the NGB population is important for devising more rational and cost-effective management strategies, which will facilitate the safe and effective use of medications. This study will also aid in decisions around the adequate allocation of healthcare resources.
Therefore, the main objective of this descriptive study using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) GOLD is to address the epidemiology and characterise the drug utilisation patterns in NGB patients identified between 1st January 2004 and 31st December 2016. The secondary objective using CPRD data linkage with Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) focuses on providing useful estimates of healthcare resource utilisation, including number of GP visits, procedures and operations performed, secondary care referrals and hospitalisations.
Margarita Landeira - Chief Investigator - Astellas Pharma Europe Ltd. - UK
Ashley Jaggi - Corresponding Applicant - Astellas Pharmaceuticals
Ashley Jaggi - Collaborator - Astellas Pharmaceuticals
Francis Fatoye - Collaborator - Manchester Metropolitan University
Laurie Cooper - Collaborator - Manchester Metropolitan University
Marcus Drake - Collaborator - University of Bristol
Vasileios Giagos - Collaborator - Manchester Metropolitan University
Jameel Nazir - Chief Investigator - Astellas Pharmaceuticals
HES Admitted Patient Care;HES Outpatient