Mariam Kayle, assistant professor, co-wrote "Longitudinal Trajectories of Clean Intermittent Catheterization Responsibility in Youth with Spina Bifida" in "The Journal of Urology."

Abstract
Purpose: Clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) responsibility among youth with spina bifida is not well-studied. We sought to determine longitudinal trajectories of CIC responsibility to examine the transition of CIC responsibility from caregiver- to self-CIC.

Materials and methods: We performed a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study of youth with spina bifida. Participants ages 8-15 years old originally recruited from four hospitals and a statewide spina bifida association were followed every 2 years. Participants who required CIC were included. Group-based trajectory modeling was used to isolate distinct trajectories of CIC responsibility, which was the primary outcome and was graded from caregiver-CIC to shared-CIC to self-CIC. Predictors of trajectory group membership were entered into multivariate logistic regression models and included various demographic, clinical, and psychosocial characteristics, including CIC adherence and CIC mastery.

Results: Of 140 youth in the original cohort study, 89 met eligibility criteria for this study. Mean age was 11 years old at enrollment; 93% had myelomeningocele. Two distinct trajectory groups emerged: 17% had a low-flat trajectory, and 83% had a high-increasing trajectory of CIC responsibility, with shared-CIC by age 8-9 years old and increasing self-CIC responsibility thereafter. Significant predictors of group membership in the high-increasing trajectory group included less severe spinal lesion levels, higher CIC mastery, and lower CIC adherence.

Conclusions: Nearly 1 in 5 youth with spina bifida in our cohort persistently required caregiver-CIC over time, while the remainder achieved shared-CIC responsibility by age 8-9 years old with increasing self-CIC responsibility thereafter.

Citation

Chu, D. I., Kayle, M., Stern, A., Bowen, D. K., Yerkes, E. B., & Holmbeck, G. N. (2021). Longitudinal Trajectories of Clean Intermittent Catheterization Responsibility in Youth with Spina Bifida. The Journal of urology, 101097JU0000000000002204. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000002204