Does Increasing or Decreasing the Daily Intake of Water/Fluid by Adults Affect Overactive Bladder Symptoms?

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Nephrology
• Evidence-Based Medicine

Background:

• Overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms, including urgency, frequency, and urge urinary incontinence, are common concerns.
• Health care professionals often recommend modifying fluid intake to manage OAB symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review evidence on whether altering daily fluid intake affects OAB symptoms in adults.
• To determine the impact of increasing or decreasing fluid consumption on OAB symptom severity.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review by three reviewers.
• Searched databases for studies on fluid intake and OAB symptoms in adults.
• Included 10 studies after rigorous screening of 260 initial articles.

Main Results:

• Decreased fluid intake is beneficial for reducing OAB symptoms such as urge urinary incontinence, urgency, and frequency.
• Increasing fluid intake may worsen OAB symptoms, potentially increasing daytime frequency without significantly affecting urgency.
• Observational studies link increased fluid intake to worsening OAB symptoms; interventional studies show no significant difference compared to controls.

Conclusions:

• Wound, Ostomy, and Continence (WOC) nurses should recommend reduced fluid intake for managing OAB symptoms.
• It is crucial to ensure adequate hydration is maintained for other health requirements while managing OAB.