Stating the case for overactive bladder: a nurse practicioner's perspective

Overactive bladder (OAB) is a widespread syndrome characterized by symptoms of urgency, with or without urge urinary incontinence, frequency of micturition, and nocturia. Urgency is a sudden, intense, difficult-to-defer desire to pass urine and must be differentiated from normal urge or desire to void that can be deferred. It is the core symptom of OAB in the International Continence Society definition. Many misconceptions surround OAB, including that it is a normal part of aging; these contribute to the barriers to OAB diagnosis. Women are more likely than men to have OAB with incontinence; these women report diminished quality of life and are more susceptible to sleep disorders, fractures, and infections. The nurse practitioner plays an important role in diagnosing OAB during examination by eliciting specific information about symptoms from patients in their care, and in determining which treatment approaches (i.e., behavioral, pharmacologic, or a combination of both) will help them achieve optimal outcomes.