The responsiveness of the Overactive Bladder Questionnaire (OAB-q).
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine the responsiveness of the Overactive Bladder questionnaire (OAB-q) during anti-muscarinic treatment.


METHODS
OAB patients were treated with tolterodine ER 4 mg/day for 12 weeks. The OAB-q and 3-day micturition diaries were collected at baseline, 4, and 12 weeks. The patients' and physicians' perceptions of treatment benefit were assessed at 4 and 12 weeks. Responsiveness of the OAB-q was examined with effect sizes and comparisons to other measures using ANOVAs, t-tests, and correlations.


RESULTS
A total of 865 patients completed the 12-week study (mean age 61 years; 73% female; 89% Caucasian). From baseline to 4 weeks, significant improvements (p < 0.0001) occurred in all OAB-q subscales, which were maintained through week 12. The OAB-q was highly responsive with subscale effect sizes ranging from 0.44 (social interaction) to 1.2 (symptom bother). Significant score changes in all OAB-q subscales (p < 0.05) were associated with reductions of > or = 3 urgency episodes, > or = 3 micturitions, or > or = 1 incontinence episode per day. Improvements in OAB-q scales were associated with changes in patient and physician perceptions of treatment benefit.


CONCLUSIONS
The OAB-q was highly responsive and demonstrated responsiveness to reductions in urinary urgency, frequency, and incontinence during antimuscarinic treatment of OAB. The OAB-q appears to be a useful outcome measure for treatments of OAB.
Coyne
Karin S
KS
MEDTAP International, Inc., Center for Health Outcomes Research, 7101 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 600, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA. Coyne@medtap.com
Matza
Louis S
LS
Thompson
Christine L
CL
D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003408:Cresols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010665:Phenylpropanolamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011788:Quality of Life; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000068737:Tolterodine Tartrate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology
D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D003408:Cresols; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists; D010665:Phenylpropanolamine; D000068737:Tolterodine Tartrate