5: The Medical Management of the Overactive Bladder Syndrome
- Page ID
- 15597
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- 5.1: Introduction
- The overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) has been defined by the International Continence Society as urinary urgency with or without urge incontinence usually with frequency and nocturia. It is a diagnosis based on lower urinary tract symptoms alone. While not life threatening, it can have a considerable adverse impact on the quality of lives of those who suffer from it, and it is highly prevalent within society.
- 5.2: Definition of OAB Syndrome
- OAB is a clinical diagnosis and 28 comprises the symptoms of frequency (>8 micturitions / 24 hours), urgency and urge incontinence, occurring either singly or in combination, which cannot be explained by metabolic (e.g diabetes) or local pathological factors (e.g urinary tract infections, stones, interstitial cystitis).
- 5.3: The OAB – How Common is It?
- There are at present only a few population – based studies that have assessed the prevalence of OAB.
- 5.4: 5.4-Impact of OAB Symptoms on Employment, Social Interactions, and Emotional Wellbeing
- Symptoms suggestive of an OAB often have a profound negative influence on quality of life. It is not only episodes of leakage that effect wellbeing but also urgency and frequency have considerable detrimental effects on daily activities.
- 5.5: The Management of Overactive bladder
- Incontinence occurs in approximately a third of people presenting clinically with OAB, and approximately a third of them have a mixed picture of combined sphincteric weakness and detrusor overactivity.
- 5.6: Drug Therapy
- There are a number of antimusarinic agents in contemporary use.