The wet patient: understanding patients with overactive bladder and incontinence

Overactive bladder (OAB) is a constellation of lower urinary tract symptoms, including urinary frequency and urgency,which can occur with or without urinary incontinence. Incontinence is present in over half of female patients with OAB. This condition affects more than 33 million Americans and imposes considerable economic, social, and psychological burdens. Although continued improvements in the pharmacologic management of lower urinary tract disorders have led to the availability of well-tolerated, characteristic features, prevalence and epidemiology, effective treatment options, the symptoms of OAB are generally underreported by patients and under treated by healthcare professionals. Heightened awareness of the multifaceted disease burden imposed by OAB and increased understanding of the characteristics of patients who are likely to be most severely affected, in particular those who suffer from incontinence, may improve the timely identification, diagnosis, and clinical management of the syndrome, enhancing both the health and quality of life of these patients. This review will summarize the clinical consequences, and management of OAB, with particular focus on the incontinent patient.