Clinical characteristics, beliefs, and coping strategies among older patients with overactive bladder.
To describe clinical characteristics and assess beliefs and coping strategies in older patients with overactive bladder (OAB) attending urology and gynecology clinics in Spain.



This non-interventional, multicenter, cross-sectional study collected demographic and clinical details from individuals aged ≥60 years with a diagnosis of OAB and score ≥3 on the Patient Perception of Intensity of Urgency Scale. Symptoms were assessed using the Bladder Control Self-Assessment Questionnaire (B-SAQ) and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) rated using a simple visual analogue scale. Coping strategies and OAB beliefs were assessed using two specially designed questionnaires.



Patients (n = 786) reported a mean (±SD) of 4.9 ± 2.9 urinary urgency episodes and 2.9 ± 2.3 urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) episodes per 24 hr. Mean times since diagnosis and symptom onset were 18 ± 34 and 38 ± 46 months, respectively. B-SAQ symptom and bother scores were 7.5 ± 2.3 and 8.3 ± 2.5, respectively. Most patients (92%) reported worse HRQoL after symptom onset. Approximately, 50% of patients considered their symptoms normal for their age/gender and most (71.5%) expected symptoms to worsen with age/time. However, 80% believed that symptoms would improve with treatment. For coping strategies, 81% of patients changed their urinary frequency, 71% controlled fluid intake, and 64% used pads. Use of coping strategies was associated with UI severity.



Many older individuals view their OAB symptoms as a normal feature of age, which may delay diagnosis. Reduced HRQoL and adoption of coping strategies are also common. The results support the need for improved patient education, earlier recognition, and effective intervention in the older OAB population. Neurourol. Urodynam. 36:774-779, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Department of Urology, Hospital Universitario de Valme, Seville, Spain.
Pedro
P
Blasco
Department of Gynecology, Hospital Universitario de Valme, Seville, Spain.
Maria Isabel
MI
Valdivia
Department of Gynecology, Hospital Universitario de Valme, Seville, Spain.
Maria Rosa
MR
Oña
Health Economics and Outcomes Research, IMS Health, Barcelona, Spain.
Montserrat
M
Roset
Department of Medical, Astellas Pharma S.A., Madrid, Spain.
Ana Maria
AM
Mora
Department of Medical, Astellas Pharma S.A., Madrid, Spain.
Marta
M
Hernández
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D063189:Symptom Assessment; D053201:Urinary Bladder, Overactive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology
aged; behavior and behavior mechanisms; quality of life; urinary bladder, overactive; urinary incontinence, urge