Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39432480›Full record

ArticlePloS one2024

Addressing bladder and bowel challenges in dutch multiple sclerosis patients: Symptom prevalence and patient referral pathways.

Willemijn Faber, Alexander B Stillebroer

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Letter to the Editor "Frailty and urinary symptoms share pathophysiological mechanisms involved in disease progression in people with multiple sclerosis".Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Willemijn FaberDepartment of rehabilitation, Rehabilitation Centre Heliomare, Wijk aan Zee, North Holland The Netherlands.
Alexander B StillebroerDepartment of Urology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, South Holland, The Netherlands.ORCID 0009-0004-3622-1582

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesNerve damage and/or spinal cord injury in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) may result in the development of bladder and bowel problems. We wanted to gain insight into two issues: the prevalence of bladder and bowel problems among individuals with MS and the referral pathways for these problems to various physicians treating patients with MS.

methodsIn the autumn of 2021, we undertook a nationwide cross-sectional study. We used a comprehensive questionnaire comprising 63 questions covering aspects such as MS diagnosis, disease progression, bladder and bowel issues, and consultations with healthcare professionals. Individuals with MS were invited to participate through social media or by direct mail.

resultsThe study included 1,082 validated respondents (81.5% female) with an average age of 53.3 years at participation, and an average age of 38.3 years at MS-diagnosis. Among the respondents, 91% experienced bladder problems while 73% indicated they had bowel problems. Within these respective groups, 42% and 47% were not aware of the connection between these issues and MS. Bladder and bowel related complaints disrupted daily life for 45% and 28% of the respondents, respectively. The patients consulted various healthcare providers for their complaints. Most respondents expressed dissatisfaction with the time it took to resolve their problems and 9% of those with bladder complaints and 60% of those with bowel complaints had not yet found a satisfactory solution.

conclusionsIn the Netherlands, bladder and bowel symptoms in individuals with MS are highly prevalent and have a considerable impact on quality of life. Lack of awareness of these symptoms frequently leads to inadequate recognition, both by the patient and healthcare professional. Patients often consult various healthcare professionals for these complaints, which can potentially result in suboptimal treatment due to a lack of specialized expertise.

Indexed as

Multiple SclerosisReferral and ConsultationAdultAgedCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedNetherlandsPrevalenceSurveys and Questionnaires

Identifiers

PMID39432480
PMCPMC11493291

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.