Urologie pro praxi 4/2023

Treatment of a patient with refractory overactive bladder

The term overactive bladder (OAB) expresses a set of symptoms where urgency is an obligatory symptom. On the basis, other symptoms develop, including increased urinary frequency, nocturia and incontinence may also be present (occurs in approximately 1/3 of patients). We divide patients into two groups, weather they are incontinent or not. Treatment of OAB is initiated with behavioural therapy, which is eventually followed by pharmacological treatment. If both methods fail, we are talking about refractory OAB, where more invasive treatment methods are needed. According to the 2006 EPIC study, the prevalence of OAB in the population is 11.8% (1). In general, the incidence of this condition increases with aging, while under the age of 60 this disease is more common in women, after the 7th decade it prevails in men (2). Due to increasing life expectancy, an increase in prevalence can be expected. Although it is not a life-threatening disease, this syndrome has a high impact on the quality of life of patients. It affects not only physical health but especially psychological health. Unfortunately, the disease is overlooked by many sufferers, who believe that there is no help, consider it part of ageing or are ashamed of their problems. Alarmingly, 40–70% of patients never confide their problems to a doctor (3).

Keywords: overactive bladder, refractory, treatment.