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Published on: April 27, 2014
Symptom bother and health care-seeking behavior among individuals with overactive bladder
Debra E Irwin1, Ian Milsom, Zoe Kopp
1Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. dirwin@email.unc.edu
Objective:
To estimate symptom bother and health care seeking among individuals with overactive bladder (OAB; ie, cases) using current International Continence Society definitions.
Methods:
This was a nested case-controlled analysis of data from the EPIC study, a population-based, cross-sectional survey of adults in five countries. Cases and matched controls were asked about risk factors, use of coping techniques, and health care seeking for urinary symptoms. Cases were asked about symptom bother and assessed with the Overactive Bladder-Validated 8 and Patient Perception of Bladder Condition instruments.
Results:
Among cases (n=1434), 54% reported symptom bother; rates were similar between men (54%) and women (53%). Significantly more men with urinary incontinence (UI) reported bother (77%) than women with UI (67%; p
Conclusions:
Cases reporting symptom bother, particularly those with UI, were significantly more likely to use coping techniques and seek health care advice. Clinicians should screen for OAB in all cases and assess symptom bother in those affected to guide diagnosis and treatment.
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