Work

Psychiatric morbidity in bladder exstrophy-epispadias complex: A systematic review with a population-based case-control study

Year: 2026

Type: review

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Bladder exstrophy and epispadias complex is a rare congenital anomaly with significant medical and psychosocial implications. We employed a dual approach to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of psychiatric morbidity in bladder exstrophy and epispadias patients, by combining a systematic review with a retrospective national registry study. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of psychiatric morbidity in bladder exstrophy and epispadias complex. METHODS: We conducted a systematic literature review following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines, including studies on psychiatric disorders or symptoms and quality of life in bladder exstrophy and epispadias patients of all ages. Article quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Prevalence data for psychiatric conditions and scores from psychiatric and quality-of-life questionnaires were extracted. Additionally, all bladder exstrophy and epispadias patients born in Finland 2001-2006 were identified from national registries. A matched and randomized control group without congenital malformations was selected from the same population. We evaluated the prevalence and risk factors for psychiatric diagnoses in this cohort. RESULTS: Of the 3850 retrieved results, 30 studies with 1179 participants were included. The overall prevalence of psychiatric morbidity was 31 %, [95 % CI 17 %-47 %]. Psychiatric morbidity was highest in adolescents, while morbidity in adults was comparable to the general population. In the Finnish cohort, 80 % (n = 16/20) of bladder exstrophy and epispadias patients had a psychiatric diagnosis compared to 26 % (n = 21/80) of the controls (OR 11.2, [95 % CI 3.37-37.4], p < 0.001). The severity of the anomaly, number of surgeries, maternal unemployment, or maternal psychiatric diagnosis were not significantly associated with increased psychiatric morbidity. CONCLUSIONS: Bladder exstrophy and epispadias is associated with an elevated risk of psychiatric morbidity. Our dual approach highlights the need for systematic mental health assessment and support in this population.

Source: Journal of Pediatric Urology

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpurol.2026.105795

Authors: Essi Kymäläinen, Niklas Pakkasjärvi, Bernd Pape, Päivi Rautava, Max Karukivi, Liisi Ripatti