[Efficacy on interferential low frequency therapy for elderly overactive bladder patients with urinary incontinence]

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Urology
• Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Context:

• Overactive bladder (OAB) with urinary incontinence significantly impacts the quality of life (QOL) and activities of daily living (ADL) in elderly individuals.
• Anticholinergic medications are a common treatment for OAB, but efficacy can be limited, and side effects may occur in older adults.
• Non-pharmacological therapies are being explored as alternatives or adjuncts for managing OAB symptoms in this population.

Purpose:

• To prospectively evaluate the clinical efficacy of interferential low frequency therapy (IF) in elderly patients diagnosed with overactive bladder (OAB) and urinary incontinence.
• To assess the effectiveness of IF in patients who did not respond adequately to a three-month course of anticholinergic medication (propiverine hydrochloride).
• To compare the outcomes of IF therapy with baseline measurements and assess its impact on various clinical and functional parameters.

Summary:

• Eighty elderly patients (over 65 years) with OAB and urinary incontinence, previously treated unsuccessfully with anticholinergics, received three months of interferential low frequency therapy (IF).
• Following a median of eight IF treatments, significant improvements were observed in incontinence frequency (13.3 to 3.6 times/week), PAD test results (17.5 to 3.1g), and voiding parameters (e.g., voided volume, Qmax, Qave).
• Quality of life (QOL) index improved from 5.2 to 2.4, and International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) decreased from 12.1 to 6.3. Activities of daily living (ADL) scale also showed significant improvement (8.0 to 3.4), with increased outdoor activity and radius of action.

Impact:

• Interferential low frequency therapy (IF) shows promise as a safe and effective treatment for elderly patients with overactive bladder (OAB) and urinary incontinence, particularly when anticholinergics are ineffective.
• IF therapy can significantly improve subjective and objective measures of OAB, leading to enhanced quality of life (QOL) and increased physical activity (ADL).
• The findings suggest that IF may be a valuable therapeutic option to improve functional independence and well-being in the geriatric population suffering from OAB-related incontinence.