The impact of age, sex, comorbidities, and use of antithrombotics on the clinical course severity among patients surgically treated for urinary bladder tamponade

Abstract

To examine the relationship between clinical patient characteristics and the severity of the disease course in patients hospitalized due to urinary bladder tamponade. The severity was assessed based on hemoglobin (Hgb) levels upon admission, the requirement for red blood cell transfusion (RBCT), and length of hospital stay. A retrospective analysis was conducted at a single center, involving 75 patients who were hospitalized due to urinary bladder tamponade. Bladder cancer (33.3%) and postoperative bleeding (28%) were the most common causes of bladder tamponade. Patient age exhibited a negative correlation with Hgb levels upon admission (r = −0.539, P < 0.001) and a positive correlation with the quantity of administered RBCT units (r = 0.425, P < 0.001) and the length of hospitalization (r = 0.541, P < 0.001). The number of comorbidities exhibited a negative correlation with Hgb levels upon admission (r = −0.555, P < 0.001) and a positive correlation with the quantity of administered RBCT units (r = 0.522, P < 0.001) and the length of hospitalization (r = 0.543, P < 0.001). Patients taking antithrombotic therapy (AT) had lower mean Hgb levels on admission (87.8 ± 13.5 g/L vs. 107.6 ± 18.7 g/L, P < 0.001), a higher mean number of administered RBCT units (2.8 ± 2.1 vs. 1.1 ± 1.3, P < 0.001) and longer hospitalizations (4.6 ± 1.6 days vs. 3.1 ± 1.1 days, P < 0.001) compared to those not taking AT. Older patients with multiple comorbidities, particularly those taking AT, should be expected to have a more severe clinical course of bladder tamponade. Therefore, special clinical attention is necessary for this vulnerable patient group.