Drug persistence and compliance affect patient-reported outcomes in overactive bladder syndrome

To evaluate persistence and compliance for patients receiving antimuscarinics for overactive bladder (OAB), and to assess patient-reported outcomes (PROs) according to persistence and compliance.

This was a 24-week, multicenter, prospective, observational study that included 952 OAB patients who had newly started antimuscarinics. Patients aged ≥18 years with a total OAB Symptom Score (OABSS) ≥3 and an urgency score of OABSS ≥2 were eligible for the study. Drug persistence and compliance were evaluated at 4, 12, and 24 weeks. Changes in scores on PROs were compared between groups (persistence vs. non-persistence and compliance vs. non-compliance) after 24 weeks. Factors contributing to persistence were examined using multivariate logistic regression.

After 24 weeks, 56.8 % of patients remained on treatment. The persistence rates were 85.6 and 71.4 % after 4 and 12 weeks, respectively. The compliance rates were 75.6, 53.8, and 34.3 % after 4, 12, and 24 weeks, respectively. Patients who were persistent in taking antimuscarinics resulted in significant improvements in OABSS and OAB questionnaire short form score compared with those who were non-persistent (all p < 0.05). Changes from baseline in OABSS (p = 0.735) and the EuroQoL five-dimensions score (p = 0.384) were not significantly different between compliant and non-compliant groups. Predictors of high persistence included older age (OR 1.017, p = 0.007) and dry OAB (OR 1.422, p = 0.013).

Patients who were persistent with antimuscarinics showed significant improvements in PROs compared to those who were non-persistent.