The Importance of Reporting Clinical and Epidemiological Data in Urology: Local Experiences and Insights from the International Literature

Abstract

Pathologies of the genito-urinary tract are responsible for a considerable disease burden worldwide, leading to significant losses of income, lost working days, increased expenditures for national healthcare systems, and decreased quality of life (QoL) in the affected patients. Among these diseases, infections and malignancies in this anatomical region are some of the most important illnesses in human medicine; nevertheless, benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), erectile dysfunction, hypospadias, urinary incontinence, and vesicoureteral reflux are also relevant disorders affecting millions. The publication of various microbiological and clinical studies in urology from different geographical regions has important ramifications from the standpoint of epidemiology: on one hand, reported data may influence the development of therapeutic guidelines for urinary tract infections (UTIs) (empiric antibiotic-therapy) and malignancies (including classical cytotoxic drug protocols and next-generation anticancer therapies) both locally and internationally; on the other hand, the relevant stakeholders and government representatives often base their decisions on published evidence. Therefore, novel studies in the field of urology are strongly encouraged to maintain and improve the high standard of patient care internationally and to ensure continuous information supply for international datasets on the causative agents of UTIs and cancer registries. The present Editorial aims to highlight some relevant studies published from the field of urology in Medicina over the last several years.

Trends in Incidence and Outcomes of Hospitalizations for Urinary Tract Infection among Older People in Spain (2001–2018)

“…We found that Escherichia coli was the most prevalent pathogen in both sexes regarding isolated pathogens, which is in line with previous reports [ 1 , 7 , 26 , 28 , 33 , 34 , 35 ]. However, the risk of IHM was associated with Staphylococcus aureus , but the risk decreased with other isolated pathogens, which is also observed among patients with COPD and type 2 diabetes mellitus [ 7 , 27 ].…”

“…Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are considered the third most common type of infections [ 1 , 2 ]. UTI incidence increases with age and is an important cause of antibiotic use, morbidity, and mortality in older adults [ 3 ].…”

“…The diagnosis of a UTI may be complicated among old patients [ 1 ] as classical symptoms and signs are frequently replaced by atypical symptoms, such as asymptomatic bacteriuria [ 6 ]. For example, bacteremia due to UTI in older patients may manifest as delirium instead of fever and chills [ 11 ].…”

“…In addition, UTIs result in a huge economic burdens to healthcare systems, leading to significant losses of income, morbidity, and restricted activity [ 1 , 3 , 5 , 10 , 15 , 16 , 17 ]. UTIs are responsible for one million emergency room visits in the USA and 100,000 hospitalizations each year [ 8 ].…”

Bacterial Profile, Antibiotic Susceptibility Pattern and Associated Factors Among Patients Attending Adult OPD at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Hawassa, Ethiopia

“…9 Reporting of epidemiological data in urology and urinary tract infections are crucial to influence the development of therapeutic guidelines for UTIs and also the relevant stakeholders and government representatives often base their decisions on published evidence. 10 According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), UTIs are the most common bacterial infection requiring medical care, resulting in 8.6 million ambulatory care visits in 2007, 23% of which occurred in the emergency department. 11 An estimated 50% of women report having had a UTI at some point in their lives and 8.3 million office visits and more than 1 million hospitalizations, for an overall annual cost of more than $1 billion.…”