Epidemiology Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Epidemiology, including details on twin studies, statistics, environmental and genetic factors.

The overactive bladder: Epidemiology and morbidity.

Tyagi S, Thomas CA, Hayashi Y, Chancellor MB

Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Suite 700, 3471 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.

The International Continence Society recognizes the overactive bladder (OAB) as a "symptom syndrome suggestive of lower urinary tract dysfunction" that is defined as "urgency, with or without urge incontinence, usually with frequency and nocturia." Patients who have OAB are often sleep deprived and their sexual life is hindered. These patients have a restricted social life and an increased risk for depression. Accurate prevalence figures are difficult to obtain because most patients consider OAB an inevitable part of aging and some patients are too embarrassed to seek diagnosis. Primary care physicians need to be educated about the importance of identifying this clinical problem and managing it in a way that will minimize morbidity and maximize quality-of-life improvement. This article describes the various aspects of OAB, with special emphasis on epidemiology and morbidity.

Published 2 October 2006 in Urol Clin North Am, 33(4): 433-8, vii.
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