Population | Evidence Pro/con HCIC | Original studies (n) | Reviews (n) | LoE |
---|
SCI | + + +/− | 12 | 10 | 1A-2B |
SB | +/− − | 4 | NA | 2B-3B |
MS | NA | NA | NA | NA |
BPH | – | NA | NA | NA |
Mixed | + + +/− − | 4 | 22 | 1A-2B |
All | + + +/− − | 20 | 32 | 1A-2B |
- Bold text is a summary of the total evidence level of the pathologies
- BPH Benign prostate hypertrophy, HCIC Hydrophilic-coated intermittent catheters, LoE Level of evidence, MS Multiple sclerosis, NA Not available, SB Spina bifida, SCI Spinal cord injury
- + to + + +: The literature supports claims of hydrophilic catheters as being superior to uncoated catheters
- − to − − No significant difference between hydrophilic and uncoated catheters or uncoated catheters are superior
- 1, 2, and 3 refer to the (descending) level of evidence. A = systematic review/meta-analysis; B = clinical trial