Transitional Urology in Korea: Initial Insights Through a Cross-Sectional Study.

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Pediatric Urology
• Transitional Care

Background:

• Transitional urology (TU) is emerging in Korea.
• Current TU care faces challenges in patient transition.
• A need exists for structured transition protocols.

Purpose of the Study:

• Evaluate the current state of transitional urology in Korea.
• Identify key areas for developing an effective transition protocol.
• Assess patient distribution and transitional care completion rates.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 1,484 patients (aged 10+) from June 2021 to May 2023.
• Categorization of transitional stages from T1 (pediatric care) to T4 (adult care).
• Analysis of patient distribution across disease groups and transition phases.

Main Results:

• Hypospadias, spinal bifida, and congenital ureteral anomalies were most prevalent.
• Only 5.3% of spinal bifida patients completed transition (T4), with 80.1% in T1.
• 37.7% of patients introduced to adult urology (T2-T4) reached T4, showing improved completion.

Conclusions:

• Transitional urology in Korea is nascent, with critical gaps in care initiation and completion.
• Early engagement and structured protocols are essential for successful patient transition.
• Addressing the complex needs of congenital urologic patients requires dedicated transition strategies.