title: Impact of overactive bladder on women in the United States: results of a national survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Overactive bladder (OAB) may affect health-related quality of life. Few data have been gathered on the impact of OAB or on patient satisfaction with therapy. This 2002 survey examined the effects of OAB on participants; treatment-seeking behaviors, patient satisfaction with oral OAB therapies, and desirable characteristics of new treatments were investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  An online questionnaire was administered to 1228 women aged 40-65 years with at least a high school education and minimum annual income of 35,000 dollars. Respondents were categorized as having no OAB symptoms (control group; n = 330) or as having OAB symptoms (n = 898). Those with symptoms were subdivided into treatment groups: current users of prescription OAB medications (n = 309), lapsed prescription medication users (n = 265), and those never treated (n = 324). The significance of between-group differences in response was assessed through 95% confidence levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Symptoms of OAB significantly affect self-esteem, family relations, sexual relations, lifestyle, professional life, and health perception. More than half of women who discussed OAB with a health care provider (56%) waited longer than 1 year to seek treatment; many attempted to self-manage symptoms. Health care providers rarely screen for OAB, leaving many conditions undiagnosed and patients untreated. Women treated for OAB expressed significant dissatisfaction with current OAB therapies and the desire for more effective, convenient treatments with fewer adverse effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Likely outcomes should be discussed with patients before treatment is initiated so that expectations are realistic and patients' overall satisfaction with treatment is enhanced.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urologic Surgery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, USA. roger.dmochowski@vanderbilt.edu
authors.forename: Roger R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Dmochowski
authors.forename: Diane K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Newman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D053201:Urinary Bladder, Overactive / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists