To evaluate characteristics, healthcare utilization, and outcomes among patients with frequent presentations of urethrovesical foreign objects (UFO).

We queried the California Department of Health Care Access and Information data (2008-2016) to identify patients with a primary UFO diagnosis. Patients were categorized as infrequent (<3) or frequent (≥3) presenters and followed for urethral stricture/stenosis. A multivariable logistic model identified factors associated with frequent presentation.

We found 1589 UFO encounters corresponding to 851 and 50 infrequent and frequent presenters, respectively. Frequent presenters accounted for 629 (40%) of total encounters, with a median of 4 encounters (IQR 3-11, range 3-135) and interval of 21 days (IQR 7-73) between episodes. Frequent presenters more commonly required hospitalization compared to infrequent presenters (31% vs 19%; P<.001) and discharged to custodial care services (22% vs 2.5%; P<.001). Factors associated with frequent presentation included male sex (OR 5.9, 95% CI 3.7-9.3), age 25-44 years (ref: ≤12; OR 5.3, 95% CI 1.4-20.4), White race (ref: Non-White; OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.9-3.7), mental illness (OR 4.6, 95% CI 3.6-5.9), incarceration (OR 7.1, 95% CI 4-12.5), and social deprivation (OR 3.6, 95% CI 2.5-5.3). Frequent presenters showed higher rates of urethral stricture/stenosis (30% vs 4.7%; P=.017).

Frequent presenters account for a large share of UFO encounters and drive significant healthcare utilization and have a higher risk for urethral stricture.