Objective

Investigate failure prediction in learning self-catheterization for patients over 65 and evaluate whether this population is more liable to fail as compared to younger patients.

Materials/patients and methods

All patients over 65 who had come to learn self-catheterization between January 2011 and January 2016, regardless of their pathology, were included, with a retrospective collection of data (pathology, scores of disability and success or failure of the catheterization learning). A control population of subjects under 65 was matched based on gender, pathology and BMI (Body Mass Index) criteria.

Results

Two hundred and two patients over 65 years with an average 73.7 years of age were included. 140 patients (69%) had neurological voiding dysfunction. One hundred and sixty nine patients (83.7%) managed to learn intermittent self-catheterization. A BMI over 30 kg/m ² was associated with learning failure ( p = 0.0186). The patients who failed had a FIM (Functional Independence Measure) ( p = 0.0039) and a PP test (Pencil and Paper Test) ( p = 0.0085) lower than the group who succeded learning. High age was not associated with learning failure. No significant differences by gender or pathology were made obvious, and no significant difference in the ability to self-catheterize properly was revealed as compared to younger subjects either.

Discussion/Conclusion

If two studies had previously evaluated adherence to self-catheterization according to age with conflicting results, none assessed intermittent learning gesture. A BMI > 30 kg/m ² is an unfavorable factor for the acquisition of gesture, as a PP low test and a low MIF. On the other hand, age, gender, pathology or cognitive disorders should not therefore contraindicate self-catheterization for the elderly, in case of a medical treatment indication.