Predicting self-perceived antimuscarinic therapy effectiveness on overactive bladder symptoms using the Overactive...

This work was designed to explore the ability of the self-administered Overactive Bladder 8-Question Awareness Tool (OAB-V8) to predict patient self-assessed effectiveness of antimuscarinic therapy on OAB symptoms in daily practice. Also, the ability of the tool to predict clinician evaluation of improvement was explored.

Patients of both genders, >18 years, with symptomatic OAB (score >8 on OAB-V8), and able to understand patient-reported outcome instruments were enrolled in this 3-month study. Patients were prescribed treatment with an antimuscarinic drug according to usual practice. Treatment effectiveness was assessed by the clinician and patient using the Clinical Global Impression of Improvement and Treatment Benefit Scale and by improved self-perceived quality of life using the Overactive Bladder Questionnaire Short Form (OAB-q SF) 3 months after initiating or changing an antimuscarinic therapy. Multivariate linear and logistic regression models were applied to explore the predictive validity of OAB-V8 scores at the baseline visit.

A total of 246 patients (57.7 years, 67 % women) were analyzed. Based on baseline OAB-V8 scores, logistic regression models were capable of predicting clinical improvement and patient self-perceived treatment benefit in 70 % of cases. OAB-V8 scores significantly correlated with OAB-q SF domains at baseline: 0.790 and - 0.659 for symptom bother and health-related quality of life domains, respectively (p < 0.001 in both cases). Baseline OAB-V8 score was able to predict changes in both domains of the OAB-q SF: R (2) = 0.212 and 0.162 for symptom bother and health-related quality of life, respectively.

The OAB-V8 scale showed evidence of predictive validity for antimuscarinic effectiveness in daily practice based on physician assessment and patient self-assessment of improved quality of life and treatment benefit.