Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is associated with overactive bladder and urgency incontinence in men.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the incidence of overactive bladder (OAB) and urgency incontinence (UI) in men with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).


METHODS
Prospective questionnaire study


METHODS
Saarland University Hospital


METHODS
All male patients who underwent full-night in-laboratory polysomnography between November 2006 and April 2007.


METHODS
Overactive bladder symptom score (OABSS) and International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire, Short-Form (ICIQ-SF).


RESULTS
OSAS severity was assessed according to the apnea-hypopnea-index (AHI). Return rate of questionnaires was 100% (n=100). Patients with upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS) served as controls. Evaluation of OABSS revealed that patients with moderate and severe OSAS presented with a significantly higher incidence of symptoms of OAB than patients with mild OSAS and UARS (P<0.05). Further, the ICIQ-SF revealed a higher occurrence of UI in patients with severe OSAS than in those with mild OSAS and UARS (P<.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Increasing severity of OSAS appears to be associated with an increasing occurrence of overactive bladder and urgency incontinence in men. This relationship may have clinical implications for the treatment of affected patients.
Kemmer
Helene
H
Department of Urology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. h.kemmer@erasmusmc.nl
Mathes
Alexander M
AM
Dilk
Olaf
O
Gröschel
Andreas
A
Grass
Christian
C
Stöckle
Micheal
M
D015984:Causality; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D017286:Polysomnography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D053201:Urinary Bladder, Overactive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D053202:Urinary Incontinence, Urge / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*