Aims
To compare the descriptive epidemiology of overactive bladder (OAB) of presumed neurologic origin (NOAB) to OAB of non‐neurologic origin (N‐NOAB).
Methods
Five thousand five hundred three community‐dwelling persons aged 30–79 were interviewed regarding urologic symptoms (2002–2005). NOAB was defined as symptoms of urgency and/or urgency incontinence among those with a self‐reported history of healthcare provider diagnosed stroke (N = 98), multiple sclerosis (N = 21), or Parkinson's disease (N = 7). N‐NOAB was defined identically but occurring among those not reporting neurologic disease (ND). Prevalence estimates were weighted to reflect sampling design; chi‐square, Fisher's exact, or t‐tests were used to test differences. Urologic symptom interference was assessed using the Epstein scale, while the impact of urinary incontinence (UI) on health‐related quality‐of‐life (HRQOL) was measured using a modification of the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire‐7.
Results
Forty‐five (31.0%) of 125 persons with ND and 994 (16.7%) of 5378 persons without ND reported OAB symptoms. The overall prevalence of NOAB and N‐NOAB was 0.6% and 16.4%, respectively. Persons with NOAB had higher (worse) mean American Urologic Association Symptom Index scores (13.0 vs. 10.0, P = 0.09) compared to those with N‐NOAB, and were significantly more likely to have diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiac disease, and fair/poor self‐reported health (all P < 0.05). Mean symptom interference and UI HRQOL scores were significantly higher (worse) in the NOAB group compared to persons with N‐NOAB (all P < 0.05).
Conclusions
Persons with NOAB appeared to have a greater burden of urologic illness with respect to symptom interference and HRQOL compared to persons with N‐NOAB. Neurourol. Urodynam. 31:1149–1155, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.