Racial Differences in Urinary Catheter Use Among Female Nursing Home Residents.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To assess racial differences in prevalence of indwelling urinary catheterization and intermittent catheterization among female NH residents in the United States (US). METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional analysis using the 2019 Minimum Data Set 3.0 and developed a multivariable logistic regression model to examine the association between catheter use and race. Moderation analyses were performed to clarify significant associations. RESULTS: Our study cohort was composed of 597,966 women, who were predominantly of White race with a median age of 80 years. Eight percent (n=47,799) of female residents had indwelling catheters, and 0.5% (n=2,876) used intermittent catheterization. Black residents had a 7% lower odds of having an indwelling catheter (aOR 0.93, 95% CI 0.90-0.96), and a 38% lower odds of utilizing intermittent catheterization (aOR 0.62, 95% CI 0.54-0.71) compared to White residents when controlling for common factors associated with catheter use. In moderation analyses, Black residents with age under 80 years and BMI of 35 kg/m2 or greater were less likely to have an indwelling catheter than age- and BMI-matched White residents. CONCLUSION: Racial differences in both indwelling and intermittent catheterization prevalence exist in female NH residents. These disparities should be further clarified to reduce bias in NH care.