title: Somatic Comorbidity in Women with Overactive Bladder Syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We explore the influence of co-occurring somatic illnesses on prevalent overactive bladder in women of premenopausal age.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data for the present study were derived from a nationwide survey on complex diseases among all twins in the Swedish Twin Registry born 1959 to 1985. The present study was limited to female twins participating in the survey (12,850). Generalized estimating equations were used to estimate odds ratios with 95% CIs. Environmental and genetic influences were assessed in co-twin control analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Generalized estimating equations analysis showed a significant association between overactive bladder and migraine (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.15-1.57), fibromyalgia (1.83, 1.54-2.18), chronic fatigue (1.81, 1.49-2.19) and eating disorders (1.56, 1.24-1.96). There was also a significant association with allergic disorders including asthma (1.24, 1.01-1.52) and eczema (1.22, 1.04-1.43). Among reproductive disorders, urinary tract infections (1.60, 1.40-1.84), dysmenorrhea (1.53, 1.33-1.76) and pelvic pain (1.60, 1.31-1.94) showed the strongest association with overactive bladder. Results from co-twin control analysis indicated that the significant associations observed in generalized estimating equations analysis were influenced by environmental and genetic factors without a common pathway model.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest a multifactorial and complex pathogenesis of overactive bladder in which associations between various somatic illnesses and overactive bladder may be affected by environmental and genetic factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Science, Danderyd Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: daniel.altman@ki.se.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Altman
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anastasia N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Iliadou
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lundholm
authors.affiliation: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg and Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Milsom
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Nancy L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Pedersen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012042:Registries; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D053201:Urinary Bladder, Overactive / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology
keywords: comorbidity; psychosomatic medicine; urinary bladder, overactive